North Texas

Spike in Violent Crime Faces Next Dallas Police Chief

Drive-by shootings on the rise as seven finalists interview for chief post

As seven finalists line up to undergo interviews this week for the open Dallas police chief position, neighbors are hoping for a better attack on rising violent crime.

Aggravated assault, which includes drive-by shootings, is up 19.42 percent so far this year through Sunday, compared with last year.

The 282 additional crimes do not include the third drive-by shooting in the past five days, which occurred Monday night at the corner of St. Augustine at Bruton roads in the Pleasant Grove area.

Police were called to the Adams Food Mart at that corner for a shooting victim who was wounded while trying to break up a fight. Two more shootings were reported by neighbors at the store since Friday.

"I heard some, and I lock my door when I hear it, too," said Marilyn Pond.

She works the counter at Black Jack Pizza on St. Augustine Road across from the Adams Food Mart.

"Everybody loves the community, but you don't know what's going to happen. You want to be safe. You want to be sure the customers are safe, too," she said.

Several other people in the neighborhood who spoke about the crime problem Tuesday refused to be identified.

The clerk on duty at Adams Food Mart blamed crime problems on people hanging around the car wash next door on Bruton Road.

People at the new apartment complex on the other side of the car wash said illegal drugs are sold behind and in front of the car wash stalls day and night.

Hair dressers at a salon nearby on Bruton Road said crooks have barged in and grabbed purses. The ladies keep keys in the front door so they can quickly lock it if trouble is brewing.

The Black Jack Pizza building has razor wire around the roof to combat burglars.

“There’s a lot of good people out here that need something better to do,” Ponds said.

Community activist Rene Martinez teaches at the Eastfield College Pleasant Grove Campus. He once served as an assistant high school principal in Pleasant Grove.

“There’s still quite a few gangs out there, and those gangs are the products of dysfunctional families, of poverty,” Martinez said.

He has also been watching the Dallas Police Department for many years. With rising violent crime and shrinking police manpower, he said finding a strong new chief is crucial.

“We need to get someone who is visionary, someone who is going to know the city, someone who is going to be a quick study,” Martinez said.

The seven finalists participated in a citizen meet-and-greet event Tuesday night at Dallas City Hall. It was part of the interview process set up by Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax to include public input in the selection he alone will make.

“I’m not sure if a police chief is the answer, but I think if you get help for the community, I think that would help whole lot,” Marilyn Pond said.

She would like to see a community center in the neighborhood to help police and give kids an option to hanging around at the corner.

“I think a lot of people are concerned about the lack of police out on the street and the response time,” Martinez said.

The Dallas police force of around 3,000 is 600 officers below authorized strength. The force has been shrinking the past year amid pension and salary complaints.

The neighbors at Bruton and St. Augustine said they see police after shootings, but not often enough at other times.

Violent crime is up 2.69 percent city wide, and overall crime including non-violent property crime is down 4.49 percent so far this year in Dallas.

The police chief finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Malik Aziz, Deputy Chief, Dallas Police Department
  • Carmen Best, Deputy Chief, Seattle Police Department
  • Renee Hall, Deputy Chief, Detroit Police Department
  • Michel Moore, First Assistant Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
  • Luther Reynolds, Assistant Chief, Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department
  • Gary Tittle, Assistant Chief, Dallas Police Department
  • Rick Watson, Deputy Chief, Dallas Police Department

The city manager has said he will make an announcement about next steps in the police chief selection process after interviews with city staff are completed on Wednesday.

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