Chief David Brown Facing New Round Of Criticism

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DALLAS (CBSDFW) - When it comes to crime, statistics don't always tell the story. Until, of course, the story becomes yours.

"And you think 'holy smokes' how did that ever happen?" Jennifer Wilcox has led such a sheltered life that she struggles to even say the word 'criminal.' And yet, she is now a victim.

"I believe I was in my house or not far away," says Wilcox, "and all of a sudden, it just disappeared." Wilcox won't add to the uptick in violent crime in Dallas. But, she feels violated just the same. Her purse, with her passport and important papers, was stolen in her Lakewood area neighborhood. While managing the aftermath at Dallas Police headquarters, her interaction with officers went something like this:

"They were extremely excellent," says Wilcox, wiping away tears, "especially the tall blonde one. I can't say enough about him. He was excellent. He knew exactly what to do. He knew exactly who to send me to. He all but walked out with me… and drove me. He was very, very sweet."

Comments like these are a balm for weary officers who now police during very tense times. Still, the Dallas Police Association--the department's largest police union—says its membership is struggling with low morale. According to survey results released today, some 72% of those polled described morale as being either "low" or "lowest it's ever been." DPA President Ron Pinkston today dismissed the chief's assertion that pay and benefits are at the root of the problem.

"Pay is only a small portion," says Pinkston. "A lot of it is the policies of being able to be a police officer and serving the citizens in the way that they expect us to serve them."

Chief Brown admits that response times are up on low priority calls. But, he insists that policies put in place that force officers to slow down and de-escalate situations are paying off—for officers and citizens.

"Police unions are pushing back from these police reforms that have benefited the community," says Chief Brown. "We have to at some point acknowledge that police departments must first be for its citizens. Safety is number and we are going to deal with response times. We are going to improve them…I have no doubt about that. So we're working like right now to do it and I expect results sooner rather than later."

And that's what matters for those of the sidelines of the politics of policing.

"You just want to feel you're safe," says Wilcox.

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