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Dallas police sees uptick in officer applications following shooting

By Sarah Mulé
FBI investigators look for evidence during an ongoing investigation downtown where five officers were killed by a sniper in Dallas, Texas on Friday July 8, 2016. Four DPD officers and one DART officer were killed and 9 others were wounded after a sniper opened fire during a peaceful "Black Lives Matter" march late on July 7, 2016. Photo by Chris McGathey/UPI
1 of 4 | FBI investigators look for evidence during an ongoing investigation downtown where five officers were killed by a sniper in Dallas, Texas on Friday July 8, 2016. Four DPD officers and one DART officer were killed and 9 others were wounded after a sniper opened fire during a peaceful "Black Lives Matter" march late on July 7, 2016. Photo by Chris McGathey/UPI | License Photo

DALLAS, July 23 (UPI) -- Dallas police have seen a drastic jump in applications following the July 7 shooting that left five officers dead and nine injured, authorities said.

From July 8 to July 20, applications to join the Dallas police force have increased by 344%, – an average of about 39 per day – compared to the 136 applications received from June 8 – June 20.

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Dallas police chief David Brown said that officers had been leaving because of low pay, with officers' starting salary averaging around $44,659.

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Brown has urged those who protested police shootings to apply.

Micah Johnson, 25, opened fire on police following a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Dallas.

Johnson, an Army Reserve, told negotiators that he was angry about recent police shootings that led to the deaths of several black men.

A team of officers killed Johnson with an explosive robot device after exchanging gunfire.

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