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Axios
02-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Dallas City Council to hear updated police academy proposals
The Dallas Police Department needs a new academy to train the hundreds of recruits it's supposed to hire in the next few years — but what that training facility will look like is still up for debate. Why it matters: A state-of-the-art law enforcement training facility is a key component in the city's plans to recruit more police officers. Dallas voters approved a proposition in November that requires the city to employ at least 4,000 officers. There are currently nearly 3,160 officers. The latest: Dallas Hero, the nonprofit behind the ballot initiative, sent a legal notice Monday to the mayor and City Council saying the city has until May 30 to comply with Proposition U. Meanwhile, council members will be briefed Wednesday on modified plans that will put a training center at the Dallas campus of the University of North Texas and a public safety complex elsewhere. Context: The city aims to hire 250 officers this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. So far, the city has hired 100 officers, and 65 officers have retired or left the department. Flashback: Dallas voters passed a bond package last May that included $50 million to pay for building a police academy. The bond money, $20 million in state grants, and $10 million from the Communities Foundation of Texas are tied to the academy's being located at the university. Yes, but: City leaders in February said there's not enough space at UNT-Dallas to fulfill training needs, such as having an outdoor gun range and driving course. Council members told city staff during a March briefing that the goal was to guarantee police recruits would train at the college campus. City staff later sent a memo saying recruits would start in classrooms at UNT-Dallas. What's next: Council will see updated academy plans Wednesday that would keep training for new officers at UNT-Dallas. The proposal includes a physical training center and running track, an outdoor training course, the basic academy with reality-based training, and an in-service training area for current officers. City staff are proposing also building a public safety complex on 60 acres elsewhere that would include a firearms training facility, a driving course for emergency vehicle training, and a Dallas Fire-Rescue teaching area.
Axios
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
What the next Dallas police chief faces
Dallas is nearing the end of its nationwide search for a new police chief — a position that will face increased scrutiny from the community and state officials. Why it matters: The new chief search comes as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating the police department, claiming it's not complying with state and federal immigration laws. The city is also trying to fulfill a measure to increase its police force passed by voters in November and revise its plans for a new law enforcement training facility. The latest: Paxton announced last week his office is investigating the city and its police department on allegations that Dallas is acting as a sanctuary city and protecting undocumented immigrants. The AG's office is requesting all department training materials and policies on immigration laws, as well as communications between city leadership and police regarding immigrant detainment. Context: Interim chief Michael Igo said last month officers won't stop anyone solely to check their immigration status. The department has not been asked to assist in any federal or state immigration enforcement, he said. The big picture: Democratic mayors across the U.S. have been called to testify in Congress about their sanctuary city policies. President Trump signed an executive order cutting federal grants to sanctuary cities, but the move was blocked in federal court. Flashback: Last year, then-chief Eddie Garcia said the department would not be enforcing a state law that allows officers to arrest and deport people believed to be in the country illegally until the rules were clarified. The law, Senate Bill 4, has been on hold while it makes its way through the courts. State of play: Igo has been the interim police chief since the former chief left for a role in Austin in October. The city launched a nationwide search for the position in January with the goal of interviewing finalists at the end of March. The city manager sent a memo to council members saying the search is on track and the hiring decision is expected in the next month. Igo has said he wants to be considered for the permanent position. Between the lines: Garcia's policies reduced crime, and his leadership style appeased both elected officials and the department's rank-and-file during his three-year tenure — a balance few former chiefs were able to find. But after the former chief left, Dallas voters passed a measure that requires the city to hire hundreds more officers, despite current and former elected officials warning the goal is unnecessary and too costly. City Council is also grappling with the department's training needs. Recruits have trained at an old warehouse facility for decades and have been promised a new academy at UNT-Dallas. The intrigue: Paxton sued the city after police officials said they would follow a voter-backed ordinance that deprioritizes marijuana arrests. Paxton lost. What's next: Dallas city officials said they "are reviewing the letter received from the Texas Attorney General's Office and will respond at the appropriate time." Council will be briefed on the new police academy plans in April.
