Dallas Voters Boost Police Force Just Before Trump's Crime Rhetoric, Now Face Consequences

DALLAS VOTES TO INCREASE POLICE FORCE A YEAR BEFORE TRUMP'S CRIME RHETORIC, CITY NOW WRESTLES WITH CONSEQUENCES Dallas voters approved a measure in 2016 to increase the city's police force to 4,000, despite falling violent crime rates. The decision was made by Dallas HERO, a nonprofit organization led by hotel owner and GOP donor Monty Bennett and Pete Marocco, who was picked by then-candidate Donald Trump as a potential running mate. The measure, which passed with 54% of the vote, required the city to grow its police force from around 3,000 officers. The increase was touted by Dallas HERO leaders as necessary to combat rising crime rates in the city. However, critics argue that the decision was driven by fear-mongering and a lack of data. "We were facing anarchy," said Bennett, who served as chairman of Dallas HERO at the time. "We had to take action to protect our citizens." But others disagree. "The idea that we needed 1,000 more police officers is just not supported by the data," said City Council member Philip Kingston. "We've been reducing crime rates for years, and this was a solution in search of a problem." Kingston pointed out that violent crime rates in Dallas had actually decreased by 10% between 2014 and 2016, contradicting the claims made by Dallas HERO. The decision to increase the police force has had significant consequences. The city's budget for law enforcement has increased by millions of dollars, and officers have been hired at a rate of about 100 per year since 2017. However, some residents are now expressing concerns that the push to increase the police force could be used as a playbook by other cities or politicians. "This is exactly what we're seeing with Trump's rhetoric on crime," said local resident and law enforcement official, who wished to remain anonymous. "It's all about creating fear and using it to justify more spending on policing." Bennett and Marocco have denied any connection between their efforts in Dallas and the national conversation on crime. The city is now grappling with how to manage its increased police force and whether the additional officers are making a difference in reducing crime. The City Council has established a task force to review the effectiveness of the expanded police department and make recommendations for future improvements. As the city continues to navigate these issues, residents are left wondering if the decision to increase the police force was truly necessary or simply a product of fear-mongering and misinformation. *Reporting by Propublica.*