DUSON, La. (AP) — Duson's police force will soon double in size after the town's aldermen approved hiring two officers and agreed to increase the starting salary.

The Advocate reports it was the first effort by new Police Chief Kip Judice, who was sworn in as chief last week and won the Board of Aldermen's approval for the new hires the same night.

Judice will retire from a 30-year career at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office on Thursday and begin his new job Friday in Duson. The aldermen appointed Judice to the position March 17.

The department's new starting pay of $3,000 a month could help attract applicants to the town of about 1,600.

Police officers were paid about $2,300 a month before the Board of Aldermen approved the hike.

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