|
DALLAS - Council Member Carolyn King Arnold released the following statement on the FY 2020-2021 Budget and the Dallas Police Department:
"It’s budget time at Dallas City Hall, so there’s a whole lot of politicking going on. You may have heard the City Council voted to defund the Dallas Police Department. That’s not true! Twelve of my colleagues and I voted to reprogram $7 million in police overtime pay in order to create programs and outreach efforts that will help reduce neighborhood crime rates. District 4 is one of the areas that continue to show a need for additional resources to combat criminal activity. This initial action was taken during the “straw vote” session of the budget process. This action does not represent a lack of support for DPD. The DPD budget still has several million dollars available for “overtime compensation.” If an emergency should arise, the City Manager and Council could move funds from the reserve account to address the matter.
"In the coming weeks, we will take official steps to finalize our votes. The hope is to be able to tell you more about these programs that represent “reinvestment” into our neighborhoods. The City can’t arrest its way out of the poverty and desperation issues that often lead to crime. We can use these dollars to harness the community’s powers in crime prevention. The final decision for this biennial budget will be made on September 23, 2020.
"In District 4, these dollars will likely help strengthen the #Dallas 365 Safe initiative. I announced this program earlier this year as a means for renewing neighborhood efforts to “take back our community.” District 4 community leaders have identified some of the issues they would like to address, such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and gunshots at all hours. Ultimately, if we can clean up these activities and improve safety, we can attract new businesses in our neighborhoods.
"In closing, I’m sure you heard about Chief Reneé Hall’s resignation this week. This was difficult news, I was deeply saddened, but I respect her decision. As the first African-American female chief, she faced many obstacles but was able to introduce major reforms during her three-year tenure. To her credit, she worked to implement the Police Oversight Board, Protocol and Reform measures for officer accountability and championed additional 21st Century Policing initiatives, to name a few.
"Chief Ulisha Reneé Hall has agreed to accept the City Manager’s offer to remain until the end of the year. Please join me and many other Dallasites in wishing Chief Hall (Ulisha.Hall@dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us) best wishes in her new endeavor."
|
