Mark Cuban said he plans to donate $1 million to the Dallas Police Department in the wake of the Orlando shooting that left 49 dead, according to a press release.
Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is known for being an investor on Shark Tank, is donating the money to support the Dallas Police Department and their effort to protect the LGBT community and improve counter-terrorism efforts.
"Mark has been an ally. Mark has been a fairly quiet ally, but doing the work. This is just him putting some money where he's been putting his work," said Rafael McDonnell, advocacy manager with the Resource Center, a local organization serving the LGBT community. "He's been for us for a while. Anytime you have a major citizen of Dallas, someone everybody knows, take the time to invest in the security of a community that's a big thumbs up."
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the department will track the donation and make sure it's used effectively in "creating a safe environment" for the LGBT community in Dallas.
Brown said the money will be earmarked for around 16,000 hours of police overtime to add additional police presence in the Oak Lawn area and "enhance counter-terrorism efforts."
McDonnell hopes the money can also be used to pay for other safety equipment such as additional surveillance cameras or emergency call-boxes.
At times, members of the LGBT community have been at odds with the department. There have been nearly two dozen attacks in the Oak Lawn area in less than a year. There have been no arrests made.
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"The police have done the best job that they could under the circumstances by increasing patrols, but they do have budgetary restraints," said Steven Pomerantz, director of Taking Back Oak Lawn, a documentary film that chronicles the ongoing crime problem in the Oak Lawn area. "At this point I don't know if they're ever going to catch anybody."
"I'm proud to be able to help the City of Dallas," Cuban said in a press release.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said Cuban’s devotion to the city is constantly proven by his motivation to help out.
"In the wake of national tragedies, we often hear empty talk from politicians and other influencers,” Rawlings said. “With this pledge, Mark shows he is a man of action who cares deeply about his fellow Dallasites."
Police in major cities are beefing up security and utilizing extra precaution around strong LGBT communities. The DPD hopes the money will make Dallas all around safer.
"The Dallas Police Department thanks Mark Cuban," Brown said.
