Hall cites
“serious inconsistencies” in operations; Outside group to assist in Vice unit
review and renovation
DALLAS–Dallas
Police Chief Renee Hall today announced the reassignment of approximately 20
police officers and a planned review and overhaul of operations of the Dallas
Police Department’s Vice Unit. The Chief has been conducting a “top-to-bottom”
review of DPD since her September arrival. She is expected to announce a
reorganization of the police department’s operations in the coming weeks.
Today,
however, Chief Hall said her evaluation process surfaced some significant irregularities
in Vice, and those issues need immediate analysis and scrutiny.
“The irregularities are serious,” said Hall,
“and it’s important to immediately launch a more thorough assessment and
examination of this unit’s operations. At the moment. There are more questions
than answers, and that’s why we have to take a deeper dive into this unit’s
protocols. Concurrently, we have developed a plan to decentralize enforcement
of the crimes that have been handled by Vice.”
Chief
Hall said she will shift responsibility for crimes such as prostitution and
gambling to the city’s area substations and other units. She emphasized that the reassigned officers
will be shifted into five areas of critical enforcement need such as domestic
violence and robbery crimes.
Hall
also said the City has contracted with a group of external and seasoned law
enforcement officials who are members of the International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP). The group is organized
as a company called No Limit Investigative and Security Services to assist in
the examination of the Vice unit.
“These
outside experts will assist us in the evaluation and examination of the Vice
unit,” said Hall. “Clearly, to me, there are inconsistencies in Vice’s operations,
and that needs to be addressed. This division must exhibit the highest level of
integrity and accountability because of the types of crime it enforces.”
Hall
said she is uncertain when the examination will be complete.
“The
outside group is composed of former executive police officers,” said Hall.
“They understand the need for rigid controls in the Vice unit; we have to
establish if the irregularities are isolated or if they are institutionalized.
I’m not sure how long this evaluation will take.”
Chief
Hall emphasized that gambling and prostitution crimes will remain important
enforcement issues. Specialized undercover operations will be handled by Narcotics
and other units.
“We
will carefully monitor this decentralized enforcement,” said Hall. “It may even
improve enforcement because the patrol officers know their neighborhoods and
where these crimes could be occurring.”
Hall
was named Chief of Police in Dallas this summer.
Chief
Hall will be available to the Media today at 5:15 p.m. at the Donald A.
Stafford Media Conference Room, located on the second floor of Jack Evans
Police Headquarters.
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