By Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson
You probably remember that more than four years ago, Dallas was searching for a new police chief.
Back then, Dallas was experiencing an unacceptable spike in violent crime. The previous police leadership offered no real solutions or answers, and a change in approach was overdue.
In December 2020, I sent you a newsletter advocating for the city to find “an effective communicator with a buck-stops-here mentality,” adding that the “chief should take it personally that crime is up in Dallas and not make excuses or try to shift the blame.”
The email continued:
Crime victims deserve a police chief who will fight for them. The people who live in this city deserve someone who will work tirelessly every day to keep them all safe. And they deserve someone who will partner with them to ensure that violent offenders are kept off their streets.
This city also needs a chief who can handle that pressure, who can articulate a clear vision for making the public safer, and who can rally the public to work with the Dallas Police Department.
Police officers, and the next police chief, can’t solve the violent crime problems on their own, but they do play a major role.
Through that search, Dallas found the right person — a savvy, accountable, and experienced leader — and the city achieved four-consecutive years of year-over-year reductions in violent crime.
Today, Dallas is back on the market for a police chief. And while the violent crime situation has drastically improved since early 2021, the job might be even more demanding now.
This hiring decision will be as important as it gets. Historically, Dallas has enjoyed success when the right person comes in – and has suffered the consequences of hiring chiefs who lack the experience and the know-how to be the city’s top cop.
Ultimately, this won’t be my decision to make. The City Charter assigns that responsibility to the city manager. But the new city manager thus far has proven to be a collaborative and responsive leader. And as the only citywide elected official in Dallas, it’s important to share with you what I believe are some of the most crucial qualities that she should be looking for in the next police chief.
