Police Security Concerns At DPD Headquarters
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Police in Dallas have asked Mayor Mike Rawlings for more protection before another officer is injured at headquarters.
"They keep our citizens safe, we want to keep them safe but we want to do it the right way within the budget constraints and make sure we do it efficiently," said Mayor Rawlings.
Jack Evans Police Headquarters still bears the scars of this month's attack. Plywood covers windows, small bits of broken glass and bullet pock marks are noticeable in the concrete. No one was hit in the crossfire, but a DPD SWAT sniper killed the gunman hours later at a standoff in Lancaster. But the gunman left explosive calling cards behind -- live pipe bombs.
Now police said defensive upgrades are mandatory. "We have to make these fixes," said the president of the Dallas Police Association, Ron Pinkston. He hand-delivered a letter to Mayor Rawlings Wednesday morning.
The letter stressed the need for bulletproof glass at headquarters; shatterproof film to cover glass at police substations; round-the-clock surveillance at substation vehicle entry points; and secure, fenced-in parking for officers away from the public.
"We have to make these fixes to make sure the officers are safe and the citizens that come to those stations are safe," said Pinkston.
He pointed out the public can wander through police lots at will; one person was recently discovered filming a substation from its parking lot. By contrast, Pinkston points out council members sit behind newly reinforced desks in a city hall that limits access to two secured public entrances.
"They spent close to $1 million to make sure city council and citizens that come here are safe," said Pinkston.
It boils down to money, and though the new budget dominated the council meeting Wednesday there aren't any items in it to harden police buildings.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said he feels officers and the council are on the same page.
The city manager is currently assessing the costs of making the security changes, according to Mayor Rawlings.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)