On Friday, Dallas city leaders announced a renewed investment in a crime reduction initiative that pairs targeted enforcement with community-based prevention, aiming to sustain the city’s recent drop in violent crime.
The initiative, known as “Weed and Seed,” is backed by $2 million in federal funding secured for fiscal year 2026. Officials say the program will focus on removing repeat and violent offenders while investing in services designed to prevent crime before it starts.
Speaking at Dallas Police Department headquarters, Dallas mayor Eric Johnson pointed to significant progress in public safety in recent years.
“For five consecutive years … Dallas has reduced violent crime year over year,” Johnson said. “In 2025, murders fell in this city by nearly 25% and have continued to fall an additional 12% year to date.”
Dallas mayor Eric Johnson at Dallas Police headquatersEmily Capetillo
Johnson said the new funding will help expand strategies that have contributed to those declines while strengthening long-term safety efforts across neighborhoods. He added that while crime is down, the fight to keep it down is ongoing.
The funding was secured with support from Congressman Jake Ellzey, who emphasized the program’s dual approach.
“The idea is straightforward: remove violent crime from neighborhoods through targeted enforcement, and at the same time, invest in those same neighborhoods so families have real opportunities to succeed,” Ellzey said.
Dallas officials say the initiative will direct resources toward both policing and prevention, including youth programs, workforce development, and access to health services.
Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn said the effort reflects coordination between city and federal leaders to prioritize public safety.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership that we should be building,” Mendelsohn said. “It connects local priorities with federal support and ensures that we’re investing in strategies that are thoughtful, targeted, and accountable.”
Mendelsohn said that the effort to secure the funding began well before its approval, as discussions started in 2024, when city leaders and departments identified public safety priorities and funding needs. Those requests were refined through early 2025 before being submitted through the federal appropriations process.
Police leaders say the program is part of a broader, multi-layered approach to reducing crime. Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said enforcement alone is not enough to maintain long-term safety.
“I believe in putting the worst of the worst in jail,” he said. “But programs like this add the education and awareness piece that is so important to try to prevent crime from happening.”
Officials say a large portion of the funding will also be used to address repeat offenders and juvenile crime by supporting rehabilitation and intervention programs.
The city plans to roll out the initiative in targeted areas, with leaders expressing confidence that the combined strategy will further reduce crime and strengthen communities across Dallas.
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