Dallas PD Works To Respond To Crime Faster
DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - Dallas Police officials outlined a new initiative today, one that will change the way police react to crimes and the way residents report non-emergency complaints.
Dallas Police launched Community Engagement Units last month, and Deputy Chief Jesse Reyes explained the concept to the Dallas City Council Public Safety Committee this afternoon.
"It's a sustainable approach to responding quickly," says Reyes.
In past years a specialized unit called "Operation Disruption" saturated high-crime areas in the city with police protection and social services. Community Engagement Units are similar. The new specialized teams operate in each of the seven Dallas Police Patrol Divisions.
Within each division the Deputy Chief oversees the Community Engagement Unit. The Unit's lieutenant oversees information collected by a team of Neighborhood Patrol Officers. Deployment Teams work undercover or in plainclothes conducting surveillance, making arrests with warrants issued by investigative units, and gathering information about criminal activity. Crime Response Teams are trained to work with detectives, assist investigators and can provide saturation patrols in high-crime areas.
"I think it's great" says Ed Fox, a police and community volunteer in far North Dallas. "The main problem we have is getting the neighbors to become educated on what can be done if they see something suspicious" says Fox.
Lt. Elaine McDaniel helps oversee the Community Engagement Unit in North Central Patrol Division. She says citizens like Fox serve a vital role in reporting crimes, so officers can act on those tips. McDaniel says police want citizens to call 9-1-1 whenever there is an emergency, but residents can also call their local Dallas Police substation to report minor offenses like drug dealing or suspicious activity. McDaniel says in the past someone complaining about drugs in their neighborhood would call the Narcotics Division downtown. She says now residents are encouraged to report those types of offenses to police in their neighborhoods.
"The biggest thing is the follow up with the community. After we make the arrest or do whatever action it is we do at the location, we'll follow up with that citizen that made that complaint and let them know what we did" says McDaniel.
