DPD Chief Meets With White House Officials

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WASHINGTON, DC (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Police Chief David Brown met with White House officials and other law enforcement agencies from around the country Friday about the Police Data Initiative and increasing trust between police and citizens.

Chief Brown spoke about a 2012 officer-involved shooting that escalated tensions in the community and how his department defused the situation.

"We held a press conference and relayed the facts as we knew them and debunked many of the rumors and answered every question from reporters," explained Chief Brown.  "The community returned to calm.  The city calmed down.  Here's what we learned.  It starts with transparency."

Chief Brown added, "trust is hard to earn and easy to lose."

The Chief called the incident a defining moment for his department.

Chief Brown says the transparency initiative has dropped the number of excessive force complaints in the city of Dallas by 67 percent last year. Chief Brown closed his remarks saying, "Transparency is the beginning point, but you also have to have policy, training and you have to hold the small few officers accountable, so you can protect the integrity of the vast majority that makes us all proud."

The White House says the purpose of the Police Data Initiative is to "identify the best means to provide an effective collaboration between law enforcement and local communities that reduces crime and increases trust."

The Dallas Police Department has added its Response to Resistance database to its website.

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