By BARBARA GREEN
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Cody Jones has known he wanted to be a police officer since he was a teenager, and that dream came true as he was recently sworn in as the newest patrol officer for the Bowie Police Department.

Bowie Police Chief Guy Green said the arrival of Jones a little more than one month ago gives them a full complement of budgeted officers after many months of running short. BPD has 17 full-time officers, nine on patrol, four school resource officers three investigator and the chief.
Finding enough applicants during the last three of four years has been tough according to Green, so he decided to try a “grow your own” program used by other agencies to send a prospect to the police academy while paying them a small salary. After graduation they serve the department in this instance for three years.
“The applicant pool is so small these days. There is less interest and we can’t pay as much as those to the south of us. This seemed like a good opportunity,” said Green.
Jones, who grew up in Nocona, has been doing ridealongs since he was 18 and he applied here recently when there was an opening.

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