After hiring a new police chief from California, a leaked memo from the top law enforcement officials in Dallas says officers will no longer respond to stolen cars, criminal mischief, reckless damage, runaway kids and child custody escalations, among other offenses.
Yikes!
Apparently the Dallas PD is already walking it back, suggesting the policy change was just an idea they had & hasn't officially gone into effect.
A leaked Dallas Police Department memo is drawing criticism from the governor and others in law enforcement for outlining certain crimes that police will investigate, but no longer be dispatched to if there's a 911 call.
The department says the memo is only a draft.
The memo, citing more than a dozen types of calls that officers will no longer be dispatched to, is being called "premature" in a post made on the department’s social media accounts, but it’s not off the table.
"It definitely was not a standard memo that comes off the sixth floor of headquarters. It had no to, it had no from, it had no signature block, and nothing leaves the sixth floor without a signature block," explained Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata.
Mata said, if approved, instead of immediately dispatching officers to certain potential crimes, Dallas police will ask people to file reports online or in-person.
"These cases are still going to be investigated," he added.
The crimes listed in the "premature" memo are: attempted unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, breaking into a motor vehicle and bmv auto accessory, credit/debit card abuse, criminal mischief, graffiti, harassment via electronic communication device, identity theft, lost property, reckless damage, runaway, want to locate, and interference with child custody.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 01: Dallas Police Department officers patrol through downtown Dallas in horseback on May 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott relaxed restrictions on businesses allowing retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls to reopen at 25% capacity amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)