Christmas time is here, a time for joy and time for cheer. Those holiday words stemmed from a song written years ago, but today, Dallas’ own Chief of Police expressed those sentiments in his own way. Chief David O. Brown transformed today into “Santa Chief” spreading joy and cheer to many of our senior citizens.
Santa Chief decided to do away with his police blues for the day and dawned a full fledge Santa suit, beard and all. He passed out gifts to senior citizen at the E.E. Cummings Recreation Center in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. Chief Brown makes no secret that he is a proud homegrown Dallasite who believes in giving a return in a community that invested so much in him. “I wanted to pass out gifts in this area, it’s my way of giving back,” expressed Chief Brown. Santa Chief accomplished his goal and brought many smiles to the citizens in attendance as he passed out gifts and expressions of love.
Below are the topics of discussion for the Public Safety Committee meeting for Tuesday, December 8, 2015.
Index Crime Report
The following crime statistics represent data from January 1 to December 3, 2015:
FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2014
The Dallas Police Department ranks fifth among major cities according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report for 2014. In 2013, Dallas ranked sixth for safest city. The city’s rank has continued to drop in this last decade. However, Dallas has the most significant decline in crime among major Texas cities and cities across the nation. This is a reflection of the involvement of our citizens and the hard work of our officers.
Call Types and Priorities
Emergency calls are dispatched on a priority system. The following chart provides a better understanding of the types of calls, their priority in the system, and the department’s goal for response time.
Cite & Release Pilot
The Dallas Police Department is proposing a Cite & Release pilot program. Cite & Release is a new law that authorizes officers to issue a citation requiring the person to appear before a magistrate at a later date in lieu of an immediate appearance. The law applies only to certain Class A or Class B misdemeanors and the person must reside in the county where the offense occurred. Some of the offenses included in Cite and Release are:
Possession of Marijuana (Class A and B), Criminal Mischief (Class B), Theft (Class B)
Criminal Nuisance Abatement Process (S.A.F.E.)
The Nuisance Abatement Unit is comprised of Dallas Police officers who work in partnership with Dallas Fire-Rescue, Code Compliance, and the City Attorney’s Office. The purpose of the unit is to combat the use of property as a base for criminal operations. The Nuisance Abatement Team will seek property owner compliance, however, non-compliance can result in civil penalties and other legal action.
On Saturday, September 26, 2015, officers and civil servants from the Dallas Police Department will participate in the 90th Anniversary of the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic football game, which will be held at the State Fair of Texas. DPD is honored to participate in this popular event as it greatly assists the department in furthering our citywide outreach efforts.
In addition to the normal safety and traffic activities, the Department will partake in the State Fair Classic festivities in the following ways:
Photographs produced by Hadnot Photography will display officers on video boards, wearing their uniforms, contrasted with their fraternity, sorority, or college clothes.
Videos highlighting DPD programs will be displayed before and during the game.
Chief Brown and officers will escort the game trophy onto the field prior to kickoff.
Officer Charles Vaughn will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the pre-game activities.
DPD Vehicles will be displayed at field level during the game.
Officers will hand out safety information outside the Cotton Bowl before, during, and after the game.
On behalf of the Dallas Police Department, special thanks to Al Wash Entertainment and the State Fair of Texas for the opportunity and considerable support in assisting DPD in furthering our community outreach efforts.
On Thursday September 24th, Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown hosted Let’s Talk, A Conversation with Dallas Police Recruits. Chief Brown addressed over 150 current Dallas Police Recruits about community relations, and about recent tensions throughout the country between law enforcement and the community.
During the evening college students, community members, and officers provided feedback, via recorded video that played back during the event, on how they feel about the relationship between police and the community. Let’s Talk afforded the recruits the opportunity to speak freely with Chief Brown as to what they believe is required to improve the police departments relationship with the community.
McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley was also in attendance to express his thoughts on the importance of community policing. Chief Conley reminded the young recruits that “technology is making a rapid change in policing” and stressed the importance of going out and making connections with the community.
Chief Brown ended with words of wisdom to what he called “the future of the Dallas Police Department” by reminding them to “never forget why you became a police officer”. Please visit us on twitter to see pictures of the event tagged #DPDRecruitsTalk.
On Thursday September 24th at 7PM, Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown will host Let’s Talk, a conversation with Dallas Police recruits about community relations. The department feels this conversation is timely and necessary due to recent tensions throughout the country between law enforcement and the community.
Over the last few weeks the department reached out to college students, community members, and officers to provide feedback on how they feel about the relationship between police and the community. Their responses were recorded and the videos will be played back during the September 24th event.
Chief Brown will engage more than 150 current Dallas Police recruits using these pre-recorded video responses. Those tuning in online will be able to see the interaction and conversation between Chief Brown and the Dallas Police recruits as well as see the student, community, and police videos at the same time as they are being viewed by the onsite attendees. McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley will also participate in this important conversation.
This event will give Dallas Police recruits an opportunity to get first-hand accounts of how community members and police officers are feeling about current law enforcement and community relationships. We encourage all community members to watch the live broadcast online and follow the conversation on social media using #DPDRecruitsTalk.
On September 3, 2015, Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown hosted a press conference along with the Safer Dallas Better Dallas board members and steering committee. During the press conference, the president of Safer Dallas Better Dallas, Mr. Gary Griffith, presented Chief Brown with a check for $20,000 for the purchase of body cameras for the next academy class.
Dallas Police Department Executive Assistant Chief David Pughes made a major announcement about plans for a new reality based training facility. Safer Dallas Better Dallas is leading a $2 million campaign to fund the development of the training facility that will be modeled after the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s in Quantico, Va. The facility will be a mock city with buildings and roadways that will allow officers to train in a more realistic environment.
Executive Assistant Chief Pughes said, “the Department of Justice has stated that reality based training is the best training that law enforcement officers can be provided with.” Chief Brown has already tripled the reality based training staff and is committed to providing Dallas Police officers with the best training in the country in order to make Dallas America’s safest big city.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown will host an award ceremony Friday, August 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Donald A. Stafford Media Conference Room at the Jack Evans Police Headquarters. The presentation will include Life Saving awards for thirteen officers and five Citizen’s Certificates of Merit arising from four separate incidents. We encourage the media to attend as we recognize these individuals for their heroic achievements.
On August 22, 2015, at about 3:40 p.m., Officers Christina Mattox #10467, Jesus Tovar #10719, Branden Helms #10724, and Juan Saldana #10733 were working an assignment downtown when they were flagged down by a couple because their four year old daughter had been shot in the leg during a drive by shooting incident. The child was losing consciousness and needed immediate assistance. The officers worked together to apply a tourniquet to the child’s leg in order to stop the blood loss. Paramedics arrived and transported the child to Children’s Hospital where she was reported to be in stable condition.
Without their quick thinking and proficiency in tactical medical care, the child would not have survived the incident. As a result, the following officers are being awarded the Life Saving Bar:
Top Left: Officer Christina Mattox #10467 Top Right: Officer Jesus Tovar #10719 Bottom Left: Officer Branden Helms #10724 Bottom Right: Officer Juan Manuel Saldana Jr. #10733 is being awarded a Certificate of Merit for his assistance in this incident.
On March 27, 2015, at about 3:45 p.m., Senior Corporal Jimmy Thongrivong #6961 and Lieutenant Ernest Sherman #6231 were on bike patrol on the Santa Fe Trail in east Dallas when Senior Corporal Thongrivong suddenly went into cardiac arrest and fell from his bike onto the ground. Lt. Sherman immediately requested cover and an ambulance and began chest compressions on Sr. Corporal Thongrivong. A nearby citizen, Ms. Jennifer Bowdler, called 9-1-1 and provided additional information to the dispatcher about the exact location of the officers. Ms. Bowdler then gave Sr. Corporal Thongrivong rescue breaths while Lt. Sherman continued with chest compressions. Metro Deployment Senior Corporal Stephen Thompson #9243, who was a former EMT, arrived on the scene and continued to provide CPR to Sr. Corporal Thongrivong. For the actions they took to save Sr. Corporal Thongrivong’s life the following awards are being presented:
Ms. Jennifer Bowdler
The Life Saving Bar
Lieutenant Ernest Sherman #6231
Senior Corporal Stephen Thompson #9243
The Citizen’s Certificate of Merit – Ms. Jennifer Bowdler
On July 9, 2015, at about 9:47 p.m., Officers Michael Sullivan 10571, Jason Henrichs #10569, Laura Beddow #10424, and William Mathis #10316 responded to a 9-1-1 call about a major accident at the intersection of Greenville and Bryan Parkway. During the crash, a motorcyclist was pinned underneath a vehicle causing her breathing to be restricted. The officers arrived within seconds of the crash before the fire department was on scene. The officers attempted to use a jack to lift the vehicle from the motorcyclist, but it did not work. Senior Corporal Michael Welch #8205, Officer Kevin Mathew #10862, Officer Boz Rojas #10379, and Officers R. L. Rushing #10416 arrived on scene to help the first responding officers. All of the officers together were able to lift the car and pull the motorcyclist from underneath the vehicle. She was rushed to the hospital and treated for her injuries. The following officers are being awarded the Life Saving Bar:
Top Left: Police Officer Boz Rojas #10379 Bottom Left: Police Officer Kevin Mathew #10862 Center: Police Officer Laura Beddow #10424 Top Right: Police Officer R. L. Rushing, III #10416 Bottom Right: Police Officer William Mathis #10316 Not pictured : Police Officer Jason Henrichs #10569
Pictured with Chief Brown is Anthony Mendoza and Douglas Carter. Not pictured but also received awards are Beeny Patterson and Willie Williams.
On August 21, 20015, at about 3:30 p.m., Dallas Water Utilities employees Anthony Mendoza and Douglas Carter were working near 2833 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when they observed a scuffle between a woman and man at the Chase Bank ATM. Mendoza and Carter intervened to stop what was actually a robbery in progress. Mendoza and Carter chased down the alleged robber and apprehended him about a block away with the assistance of two more citizens, Beeny Patterson and Willie Williams. The men were able to hold and detain the suspect until police arrived.
For their actions, Anthony Mendoza, Douglas Carter, Beeny Patterson and Willie Williams are being awarded the Citizen’s Certificate of Merit.
For more information regarding the above mentioned awards ceremony, please contact the Police Media Relations Unit at (214) 671-4065.
“The Dallas Police Department is planning for the future.
Due to recent and anticipated retirements, I have requested two (2) additional positions within the Command Staff to further the success of the organization and to meet the identified challenges of the future. The ratio of Command Staff to officers is consistent with other cities. These positions will be funded through the elimination of desk duty jobs.
The police department must constantly change in a changing environment to meet public safety needs.”
— Dallas Police Assoc (@DPA_PoliceAssoc) May 13, 2015
The Dallas Police Department has been selected as one of three recipients of the 2015 National Officer Safety and Wellness Award for the implementation of the Downed Operator Kit initiative.
From law enforcement agencies nationwide, our initiative was selected as being one of the most innovative and positive steps toward improving officer safety. The Downed Operator Kits consist of a tourniquet, Olaes modular bandage and combat gauze designed to enable officers to provide initial medical care for serious trauma related injuries to citizens and officers. Reserve Lieutenant Dr. Alex Eastman has provided officers with the best training in the application of the tourniquets. Over 3,200 kits have been issued department-wide and there is no question they are a critical and invaluable tool that saves lives. Since their inception in late 2013, they have been used to save 14 lives including two of our own police officers.
On May 12, 2015, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Department of Justice presented the department in Washington, D.C. with the National Officer Safety Program and Wellness Award.
The Dallas Police Department’s Office of Community Affairs along with the Central Patrol Division will host a “Chief on the Beat” Crime Prevention Safety & Health Fair. This event will take place at the Roseland Homes Community Center, located at 3535 Munger Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204 on Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
“Chief on the Beat” is an opportunity for the Dallas Police Department and residents of Dallas to interact in a family friendly environment. Health screenings, face painting, entertainment, and food are provided to the public free of charge.
Everyone is encouraged to come out and participate in this fun and informative community event.
For additional information, please call the Office of Community Affairs at (214) 671-4045.
Connect with Community Affairs:
Twitter: @DPDCA
Facebook: Dallas Police Department Community Affairs
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