Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Rangers and other officials to help the City of Dallas respond to a spike in murders and other violent crimes that has gripped the city.
Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to send help to the Dallas Police Department (DPD) which will include special agents, state troopers, two helicopters, and two patrol planes.
“The rise in violent crime in the City of Dallas is unacceptable, and the Texas Department of Public Safety will assist the Dallas Police Department in their efforts to protect the community and reduce this surge in crime,” Abbott said in a press release.
“Every Texan deserves to feel safe in their own community, and the State of Texas will continue to provide the city of Dallas with the resources they need to crack down on this heinous activity and protect Dallas residents.”
Mayor Eric Johnson — who has repeatedly emphasized the need to address violence in Dallas — applauded the move on social media.
“I am grateful for the Governor’s willingness to assist Dallas as we combat the unacceptable increases in violent crime in our city,” Johnson said on Twitter.
“As I said today, this ongoing situation requires an all-hands-on-deck response, and I will continue to push for strategies and partnerships that will reduce crime in our neighborhoods. The people of Dallas deserve our unwavering commitment to their safety.”
Abbott’s announcement comes in the middle of a major personnel change at DPD. Chief Renee Hall had originally said she would leave her post on November 10, but Hall is reportedly set to exit the department next month.
Seven people were reportedly shot dead in Dallas over the weekend, during a year that has already seen 220 murders — as opposed to 200 murders in 2019.
Many cities across Texas, and across the country, have experienced spikes in certain violent crime categories this year.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a reporter for The Texan in Dallas. During the academic year, he coaches high school competitive speech and debate and has also been involved in community theater and politics. A native Texan, Hayden served as a delegate at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in 2016. He is on track to receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Liberty University. In his free time, Hayden is known to take walks around the neighborhood while listening to random music on Spotify.
