The city manager underscored his viewpoint in a press statement on Saturday.
“I’m pleased to report our progress in this process and know the men and women of DPD look forward to new leadership continuing the work [former Chief Renee Hall] began towards R.E.A.L. change — responsibly, equitably, accountably and legitimately reimagining public safety,” Broadnax said.
“Reimagining” police funding and public safety is often used as a reference to certain reforms, which usually include cutting funds from local police departments and directing them elsewhere, such as when the Dallas City Council cut $7 million from the police overtime budget.
Proponents of such measures tend to believe that too many responsibilities fall on police and more investment is needed in other budget categories, while opponents contend that cutting funding from police starves them of the resources necessary to do their jobs.
The final candidates are Albert Martinez, director of security for the Dallas Catholic Dioceses and a former DPD deputy chief; Avery Moore, an assistant DPD police chief; Eddie Garcia, the chief of police in San Jose, California; Jeff Spivey, the chief of police in Irving; Malik Asis, a DPD major; Reuben Ramirez, a DPD deputy chief; and RaShall Brackney, the chief of police in Charlottesville, Virginia.
As part of its efforts to find a new police chief, City of Dallas executives employed recruitment firm Public Sector Search and Consulting, which considered 36 applicants and whittled the list down to seven.
“Additionally, 55 organizations representing Neighborhood and Business; Faith Based and Non-Profit; Police Oversight and Cultural Diversity; Law Enforcement Partners; Police Employee Associations; and City Executive Staff have been invited to participate in stakeholder panel interviews beginning [December 15],” the press statement read.
Ultimately, though, Broadnax will get the final say, and he expects to make that decision before the year is out.
In the meantime, he has chosen Lonzo Anderson, who has 23 years of experience with the department, to be the interim police chief starting on Tuesday.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."