A national organization is honoring former Dallas police chief David Kunkle.
The National Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness selected Kunkle to receive the Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award for 2010.
The award recognizes outstanding work in the criminal justice system. Kunkle is being honored for his leadership in getting officers in the Dallas police department to more accurately assess when someone is in need of treatment. Using education and training, the organization said in a news release, that many people with mental illness are now going to a psychiatric facility for care rather than to jail.
Chief Kunkle retired from the force in May.
He accepted a new job as "executive in residence" for the W.W. Caruth Jr. Police Institute at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
In that job, Kunkle will work on training future police leaders by developing leadership courses relating to police management.
