Dallas Police Association leaders continue to pressure City Hall for funding to build perimeter fencing and secured parking at Dallas' seven police patrol stations.
For now, there are visible checkpoints at most of those patrol stations, where visitors and vehicles are stopped to make sure the citizen is there to file a report, make a complaint or has a meeting scheduled with an officer.
Police officers say the checkpoints continue to be necessary because over the past year there have been threats on individual officers and people trying to enter through back entrances.
Police association leaders say despite two violent attacks on the department in a 13-month stretch, the city still isn't listening to their concerns.
For at least 40 Dallas officers on a blistering Monday afternoon, their patrol shift won't involve much patrolling, but rather watching, guarding and checking. The officers try to stay out of the oppressive sun whenever possible.
"Some guys don't mind it. They know it's a necessary evil that they have to be there to be the front lines against the individuals who may want to do harm to the officers inside the station," said Fraternal Order of Police President Michael Walton. "They recognize it's a job that must be done."
Last summer James Boulware fired dozens of rounds into DPD Headquarters and through DPD cruisers. In the aftermath, police union leaders asked for secured fencing at the city's seven patrol stations. The city agreed to bring in consultants to analyze and study the idea, along with other security improvements at the patrol stations.
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Police association leaders said their officers felt unsafe parking their cars in unsecured lots. Police thought perimeter fencing – or even requiring citizens late at night to be buzzed-in at the front entrances – would prevent another attack.
Some city leaders pushed back on the plan, fearing that fencing and locked-doors could prevent a crime victim from coming forward, or that too much security would make the police facilities look like unwelcome fortresses.
Security was beefed up at DPD Headquarters and the city of Dallas paid about $150,000 to hire a consulting firm for site surveys and safety studies at other facilities.
This infuriated many street cops and their association leaders, who warned of growing animosity and violence against officers.
There's still no plan in place to give officers' secured parking at the patrol stations. This week, city council members are meeting with the city manager, Dallas Police Department chiefs and the various Dallas police unions to go over budget items for officer pay, new gear and weapons and improved police facility security.
FOP President Michael Walton says he doubts the mayor or city manager will ever sign off on a plan to improve patrol station security.
"The mayor said he doesn't want to make police facilities look like a fortress, where the public doesn't feel comfortable," he said. "But where the officers park and the squad cars are located, the public doesn't need access to those things. And my officers would feel safer if those areas were protected by a fence with secured entrances."
For the last year, patrol station commanders have been authorized to hold back cops at the sub-stations for security. Usually it's two officers per shift. In the weeks after the deadly downtown ambush, though, sometimes there were double or triple that amount.
"The officers obviously want to be there helping other individuals. Yes, it's just only two officers, but those two officers can make a difference if they were instead out responding to calls," Walton said.
