The number of applications at the Dallas Police Department have more than tripled after a gunman shot dead five of its law enforcement officers earlier this month.

The Washington Post reported, the Dallas Police Chief David Brown said to the protesters at a news conference shorty after the ambush that left five officers dead, that, “We’re hiring.”

“Get off that protest line and put an application in. We’ll put you in your neighborhood and help you resolve some of those problems.”

The Dallas Police Department received nearly 136 applications from June 8 to June 20, versus 467 applications from July 8 to July 20, marking a 344 percent jump since the shooting.

The start pay for Dallas officers is below $45,000 a year. Nearby cities, including Fort Worth, pay officers between $10,000 to $15,000 more annually.

Also Read: Dallas racism protest: Snipers shot 11 police officers, killed 4

Nandini