City Council once again lowers Dallas police hiring goal to satisfy Prop U requirement
The Brief
After nearly two hours of spirited debate on Wednesday, the Dallas City Council passed a nonbinding resolution to beef up recruiting numbers within the Dallas Police Department. But instead of adding 325, they dropped the requirement to 300 next fiscal year.
Dallas Interim Police Chief Michael Igo says the new goal of 300 for the next fiscal year is more realistic to accomplish. He and the police union warn that anything higher than that would negatively impact services.
Last November, voters passed Proposition U by a narrow margin. It changed the city charter to require DPD to increase its total rank and file to 4,000 officers.
Currently, the Dallas Police Department has a little more than 3,100 sworn officers on the payroll.
DALLAS - The Dallas City Council once again lowered its expectations over increasing the police force.
Last year, voters approved a charter amendment calling for a dramatic increase in officers.
Top brass at the Dallas Police Department say a dramatic increase just isn't realistic.
What we know
After nearly two hours of spirited debate on Wednesday, the Dallas City Council passed a nonbinding resolution to beef up recruiting numbers within the Dallas Police Department.
However, instead of adding 325, they dropped the requirement to 300 next fiscal year.
The figure is more in line with what Dallas Interim Police Chief Michael Igo says is realistic to accomplish. He and the police union warn anything higher than that would negatively impact services.
"Moving the needle to 325 means me moving critical resources out of the patrol bureau with the thought of increased response times and increase in crime overall," he said.
That's because patrol resources would need to be redirected toward training recruits.
The backstory
The department started this fiscal year with a hiring goal of 250, citing challenges to onboard and train rookie officers.
"My team is working extremely hard to fill our recruit classes," said Igo. "If it was as simple as snapping my fingers to get the recruits in, I'd do that in a heartbeat."
Earlier this month, the Dallas Public Safety Committee already voted to recommend a lower target of 325 new hires from the original proposal of 400 for next fiscal year.
Last November, voters passed Proposition U by a narrow margin. It changed the city charter to require DPD to increase its total rank and file up to 4,000 officers.
What they're saying
Advocates who championed getting Prop U through say the current approach isn't going to cut it.
"This is not just a policy recommendation; this is a part of our city charter now," said Damien Leveck, Dallas HERO's executive director. "So to achieve this goal, we must set hiring targets that will get us to 4,000 officers in 3-5 years. A hiring plan that does not do this does not align with the expectation of the voters you serve."
At least two council members echoed that sentiment from the horseshoe, voting down the resolution on Wednesday.
"The only way we achieve a higher number is by setting a higher goal," said Councilmember Jesse Moreno. "Our hiring and recruitment goals must be aligned with our constituents' priorities."
Councilmember Adam Bazaldua argued that adding staff too quickly and going against the advice of police would be irresponsible.
"I think it would be a slap in the face to the department for anyone of us to say that we know better than them," he said.
By the numbers
Currently, the Dallas Police Department has a little more than 3,100 sworn officers on the payroll. The police chief also revealed on Wednesday that overall violent crime is down by 15%.
What's next
Goals have been set for down the line.
The Dallas City Council wants to add 350 new officers next fiscal year and then 400 the year after that.
But for right now, the focus remains on the immediate future.
The Source
Information in this article comes from Wednesday's Dallas City Council meeting and previous FOX 4 reports.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Nearly 100 repeat violent felons arrested in Dallas
The Brief Nearly 100 repeat violent felons were arrested in Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux's first major operation, "Operation Justice Trail." The month-long operation cleared 163 warrants and targeted individuals responsible for over 700 past crimes, including capital murder and aggravated assault. Some suspects identified by the operation are still at large, and the initiative will continue through the summer. DALLAS - Nearly 100 repeat violent felons were taken off the streets of Dallas in new Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux's first major operation since joining the department five weeks ago. What we know On Thursday, Chief Comeaux touted the results of his first big initiative as chief. Operation Justice Trail was built on the groundwork laid by former Chief Eddie Garcia's violent crime reduction plan. "The goal was to identify and locate all felons who were walking around on the streets of Dallas," Comeaux said. Officers used a combination of the city's camera system and old-fashioned good police work to make the arrests. By the numbers Over the month of May, law enforcement officers cleared 163 warrants and arrested 98 violent felons. LINK: Full list of names, mugshots and charges for those arrested Chief Comeaux said that in total, the suspects are responsible for 700 past crimes such as capital murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, sexual offenses, and a range of narcotics and weapons violations. Three of the people arrested currently have Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds. What they're saying "When I came in, it was like we have to do this. We must do it. We're going to do it right now," Comeaux said. "We got the team together and said, 'Who do we need to get off the streets first?' We started putting the list together and going down the list." "Our message is clear. We're putting violent felons on notice. If you're wanted, turn yourself in," said Assistant Chief Catrina Shead, who led the operation. Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said he knows some of the felons could bond out of jail. He vowed to do what he could to keep them behind bars. "At the end of the day, the court sets the bond and decides what to do if there's a bond violation," DA Creuzot said. "There's a new law coming on board, subject to a constitutional amendment vote, that will help us get refocused on that to the judges, and it will also give the judges more guidelines to set more appropriate bonds. And we'll have the right to appeal and some other things." What we don't know Some suspects identified by Operation Justice Trail are still wanted. The chief could not provide a number for how many are still out there but said the operation will continue into the summer months. What you can do Anyone with information about a wanted felon is asked to call the Dallas Police Department or use the iWatch Dallas app to submit a tip. Anonymous tips are also welcome through Crime Stoppers. The Source The information in this story comes from the Dallas Police Department and Chief Daniel Comeaux's Operation Justice Trail news conference.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Dallas Police Pause Enforcement Of Anti-Prostitution Ordinance
The Dallas Police Department has paused enforcement of an anti-prostitution ordinance after a city court ruled it unconstitutional. The department has 'instructed officers to temporarily pause enforcement' of the Dallas City Code against 'manifesting the purpose of engaging in prostitution,' said Corbin Rubinson, Dallas Police senior public information officer, in an email to The Dallas Express. He said officials based this decision on a 'recent ruling' from the City of Dallas Municipal Court. 'The Department remains committed to enforcing all laws, and this ruling does not restrict officers from other methods of investigating and enforcing prostitution and trafficking crimes in the City of Dallas,' Rubinson said. Two municipal court trials for 'manifesting the purpose of engaging in prostitution' were dismissed, as WFAA reported. According to The Dallas Morning News, the ruling found the law's language unconstitutionally vague and broad. The local law in question bans conduct that 'manifests the purpose and intent of inducing, enticing, soliciting, or procuring another to commit an act of prostitution' in public. Prostitution is also illegal at the state level, and trafficking is illegal at the federal level. The law sets forth specific factors for determining a violation. A person must be a 'known prostitute or panderer' or be in a 'location frequented by persons who engage in prostitution or solicitation. The suspect must also be 'repeatedly' beckoning, attempting to stop, or engaging passersby, or trying to stop passing cars with a 'bodily gesture,' or interfering with 'free passage.' The law also bars officers from arresting suspects for violations unless they give an 'opportunity to explain the person's conduct,' and they have an 'affirmative defense' if they provide a 'lawful purpose' for their behavior. In 2023, a Dallas County judge ruled the law unconstitutional and 'trespasses on the constitutional rights of Dallas citizens,' as The Dallas Express reported at the time. This decision followed complaints that the statute was overly broad. That year, Dallas police also stopped enforcing the statute. Dallas saw sex trafficking and prostitution spike in 2024, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. The city is home to hundreds of 'escort sites,' illicit massage businesses, and brothels. Earlier this year, near Harry Hines Blvd., a 13-year-old girl was forced into prostitution.
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Dallas GOP mayor, new top cop buck sanctuary trend to ‘do what's right'
It's been nearly a month since Daniel Comeaux was sworn in as the new chief of police in Dallas, TX, where he is taking a different approach to immigration enforcement than his predecessor and working to align with the state's sanctuary policies. 'We're gonna do what's right. We're always gonna be there to help our federal partners,' Comeaux told Fox News Digital during an interview. Advertisement 'If there's a federal agency that's doing an operation, and they need our assistance, we'll be there to help them, as long as they're doing what's by the law, and they're doing it with respect and the right way, DPD will be there to assist,' he continued. Comeaux also has the support of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who said during a previous interview with Fox News that he would support efforts by President Donald Trump to deport undocumented migrants accused of violent crimes. 'Of course, we'd support that,' Johnson said during the interview. 'Of course, we'd stand by President Trump in an effort to get rid of people in our country illegally who have violent criminal records or who commit violent criminal acts here.' 4 Daniel Comeaux took his oath to lead the Dallas Police Department on April 11, 2025. City of Dallas Advertisement Texas has taken a hard stance against illegal immigration, particularly during the Biden administration. The state deployed authorities to its border with Mexico and took on a campaign of busing migrants to Democrat-run cities to bring attention to the flow of illegal immigrants into the US. Johnson, who has served as Dallas' mayor since 2019, made headlines in 2023 when he announced he was switching from the Democrat party to the Republican, explaining his decision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, 'American cities need Republicans.' Dallas, one of the top 10 largest cities in the US, saw a significant decrease in crime after Johnson took office in 2019. According to the Associated Press, Dallas is the largest city in the US to be led by a GOP mayor. Advertisement Johnson told Fox News Digital in 2021 he attributed that success to three things — a strong police chief, having 'a budget that reflects public safety being your city's top priority' and ensuring there's 'community buy-in' for crime reduction. 4 DEA's Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux displays photos of a pill made by a drug cartel, left, and one made by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, right, during a press conference at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston in April 2023. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images 'Mayor Johnson has made public safety his top priority in Dallas, and the city has now achieved a remarkable four-consecutive years of violent crime reduction,' the mayor's office told Fox News Digital. 'The mayor supports President Trump's agenda for making America safe again and believes cooperating with federal law enforcement to stop violent criminals — particularly illegal immigrants who have no right to be in our city or in our country — helps keep Dallas safe.' Advertisement While Johnson made his position clear on immigration enforcement, his stance differed from former DPD Interim Chief Michael Igo, who previously said his department would not turn in or report anyone in the country illegally who calls 911 for help. 'The Dallas Police Department is not assisting any federal agency on detaining people that are either documented or undocumented in the city of Dallas,' Igo previously said to attendees at Familia Bethel Internacional church in Dallas, according to CBS News. 4 Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson speaks during an introductory press conference for the Dallas Wings' WNBA basketball draft selections Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Dallas. AP Igo also told the parishioners that federal immigration officials said no arrests or raids would be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, although he did say that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. Comeaux, who also has a different take on the issues than his predecessor, said while he wouldn't necessarily call it aligning with President Donald Trump's agenda, he said his department would 'do what's right by law enforcement.' 'If we come in contact with anyone that doesn't have status, we will call the proper federal agency and let them handle it,' Comeaux said. 'We're not initiating any investigations. We're not initiating any programs. So everyone should feel free to go with their business as normal.' Comeaux reiterated that if any of theirfederal partners needed assistance in any way, they would be there to assist. Comeaux, who has been on the federal side of law enforcement for the past few decades, most recently served as the special agent in charge of the DEA field office in Houston. Advertisement He said one of his biggest focuses is working to get felons off the streets. 'Anyone that has a felony warrant, at any moment, know that we could be the ones knocking at your door. It might not be the mailman knocking at your door, it might be us. So if you have a felony warrant, we are trying to get you off the streets,' Comeaux warned. 'We'll get you to the necessary court that you need to be in. But we're very aggressive in getting anyone off the street that has felony warrants. We'll keep everybody safe here in Dallas,' he continued. Advertisement Comeaux added that another feature the city has in place to protect the public is a camera system. 4 Comeaux, who has been on the federal side of law enforcement for the past few decades, most recently served as the special agent in charge of the DEA field office in Houston. Dallas police department 'One great thing about Dallas is we have so many camera systems in place. We see what's happening across the city and everyone needs to understand that and know that if you're in this area, if you commit crimes in Dallas, it's very likely that we're seeing you, we're watching you, and we're coming to get you,' he vowed. Comeaux also issued a warning to anyone looking to bring violence to the city or break the law to think again. Advertisement 'Not in this city. I've been a crime fighter, I've been a protector for my entire career, ever since I was 21 years old,' he said. 'Pick another city. Don't come to Dallas, you're not welcome.' When asked what motivated Comeaux to leave the DEA's office and get back into policing, he reflected on an incident when he started his career as a Houston police officer at 21. 'I'll never forget those moments when I was working the streets, and I was able to really make a difference. I was unable to help an elderly person one day and that has really stuck with me for my entire law enforcement career,' the chief shared. Advertisement 'And I always knew I wanted to circle back to local law enforcement and I wanted it to be in a city that can really be influential throughout the entire United States and Dallas was one of those.' Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan, Louis Casiano, and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
