Special to The Dallas Examiner
Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall has outlined a departmental reorganization plan for the Dallas Police Department that is expected to bolster departmental crime fighting resources citywide, increase command-level presence in the field and improve the quality of police response to citizens. Hall’s plan, announced after a thorough “top to bottom” assessment, includes the appointment of her command staff. Only the police chief can select officers to the highest ranks of assistant and deputy chief and major.
“This change will help leadership in the management of citizen calls, and it will focus resources where crimes are being committed,” Hall said. “We want to improve efficiency and provide high quality service to every Dallas citizen.”
As part of the overall restructuring of the department, Hall reduced the number of assistant and deputy chief positions while establishing higher expectations and responsibilities for majors, lieutenants and sergeants.
The DPD currently has nine assistant chief positions and 13 deputy chief positions. Under the reorganization plan, there will be three assistant chief positions and seven deputy chiefs. The number of officers with the rank of major will remain at 15. In addition, the seven patrol divisions in the city will remain but be aligned into four geographic sectors: central, south, east and west patrol divisions.
“Criminals don’t conform to our geographical enforcement boundaries, and we need a flexible structure to put officers where and when they are needed. That includes supervisors and command staff officers,” Hall said. “I want the citizens of Dallas to see a much more engaged police force.”
Each of the four geographic patrol divisions will be headed by a deputy chief and will include two majors, one working during the day and the other in the evening. The majors will have a larger presence in the field with patrol officers along with the lieutenants and sergeants.
Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax expressed appreciation for the new plan.
“Chief Hall’s plan puts service first at all levels in the organization,” he said. “The new structure will deploy and maximize resources to make our city safer and more responsive to the needs of the community. I appreciate Chief Hall’s thoughtful and thorough process to move the department forward.”
The reorganization plan is effective Dec. 13.