Dallas Voters Boosted Police Force Before Trump's Crime Rhetoric, Now Consequences Unfold

DALLAS VOTERS APPROVED POLICE FORCE EXPANSION A YEAR BEFORE TRUMP'S CRIME RHETORIC, NOW THE CITY IS DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. A year before President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric on crime and law enforcement, Dallas voters approved a measure to increase the city's police force by 1,000 officers. The decision was made despite a decline in violent crime rates in the city. Now, residents are grappling with the consequences of this expansion, which some fear could be used as a playbook for other cities. The measure, known as Proposition B, was championed by Dallas HERO, a nonprofit organization led by hotel owner and GOP donor Monty Bennett and Pete Marocco, whom Trump had picked to serve on his presidential transition team. The group argued that the city was descending into anarchy despite falling violent crime rates, which stood at 1,400 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. "We were concerned about the safety of our citizens," said Bennett in a statement at the time of the vote. "We felt like we needed to take action to ensure that we had enough police officers on the streets to keep people safe." However, not everyone agrees with the decision. Some law enforcement officials and residents have expressed concerns about the impact of the expansion on community policing and the city's budget. "I think it's a mistake," said Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata. "We need to focus on building relationships with our communities, not just hiring more officers." Mata pointed out that the police force has been increasing in size over the past few years, from 3,000 to 4,000 officers, despite a decline in violent crime rates. "We're spending millions of dollars on new officers when we could be investing in community programs and initiatives," Mata said. "It's not just about hiring more cops; it's about building trust with our communities." The expansion has also raised concerns among some residents who fear that the increased police presence will lead to further militarization of law enforcement. "I'm worried about the impact on our neighborhoods," said Dallas resident Maria Rodriguez. "We need community policing, not more officers with guns and armor." Despite these concerns, city officials have defended the decision, citing the need for a larger police force to keep up with growing population and urbanization. "We're committed to public safety, and we believe that increasing the size of our police force is essential to achieving that goal," said Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax in a statement. The city is currently grappling with the logistics of implementing the expansion, including finding funding for new officers and training programs. The process is expected to take several years, but some residents are already calling for a re-evaluation of the decision. "We need to take a step back and assess whether this was the right decision," said Rodriguez. "We can't just keep throwing money at the problem without thinking about the consequences." As the city navigates the complexities of its expanded police force, residents will be watching closely to see how the decision plays out in practice. *Reporting by Propublica.*