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DALLAS - Dallas Police Chief David Brown’s decision to retire comes as a surprise to many, including some of his officers. Many spent the morning having coffee with people in their communities.
The Coffee with Cops event is something Chief Brown pushed for as a community policing initiative.
He has spent 33 years with DPD and the last six as chief. He has faced criticism for low morale and increased crime rates over the years. But he’s also received great praise for his community policing programs and for his leadership after the deadly July 7 police ambush in Downtown Dallas.
“I think he calmed the situation down and really put a lot of focus on Dallas and his comments, everything reflected real good. He did a good job,” said Pete Mata, an Oak Cliff resident.
“There’s no doubt that Chief Brown was the right person at the right time. He made decisions that were outside of the box, first in the country,” said DPD Deputy Chief Albert Martinez.
Police union leaders have asked the city council to increase officer pay and help lower the turnover rate. That way, the next chief may not face the same issues.
Assistant Chief David Pughes will take over while the search begins for a new leader of the department. Brown’s last day is Oct. 22.
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