"We've gone on recruiting things and they've told me, 'I didn't get a four-year degree to make...($28,500) a year," said Warner Robins Police Chief Brett Evans in a 2011 interview with WMAZ.
Evans cited that low pay as one of the factors stifling applications to the department back in 2011.
He said some others who did apply couldn't pass the department's standards for new officers.
It all contributed to a department that struggled to fill all of its open officer positions.
Years later, the issue hasn't gone away.
Some say the short-staffing helped contribute to high rates of violent crime in 2015 and 2016. Things apparently came to a head this summer after a heated city council meeting, where it was rumored Chief Evans' job was on the line.
After the meeting, multiple city council members said Evans was given an ultimatum to hire 10 new officers in 60 days.
Other city leaders later walked those claims back a bit but the issue remained: on June 28th, the Warner Robins Police Department had 54 sworn officers. It was budgeted for more than 70.
Over the summer, Evans said he had a plan to fix it.
"We've been bringing together a lot of things even before all of this started," he said.
He said a robust benefits package, much greater opportunity for raises, a bigger starting salary, and a lateral transfer program designed to attract officers from other agencies would draw new blood to the department.
So far, it seems to be paying off. Since June 28th, the department has added 7 new officers, department records show.
They're still about 13 positions below being fully staffed, but Chief Evans says the new hires are a step in the right direction.
"It's a hardworking staff and we worked them very hard for a lot of years now so the ability able to get those numbers up and push toward full authorized strength -- that's a big deal" said Evans.
The department's current starting salary is a little over $35,000 per year and they are accepting applications.
For more information you can visit the department's website here.