Governor Greg Abbott has announced he is requesting the Texas Department of Public Safety to give support to Dallas PD in efforts to combat the recent spike in violent crime in the city.
The City of Dallas has now recorded more murders in 2020 than all of 2019. Through Wednesday, 220 people had been killed this year. A total of 210 were killed in Dallas last year, and the city has not seen this many murders since 2004.
"The time for talking, the time for words is over," says Mayor Eric Johnson.
Aggravated assaults are also up 27% from last year.
Wednesday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott announced Dallas Police had asked for help reducing violent crime and is sending the Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas DPS will send state troopers and special agents to support gang and drug investigations.
Texas DPS will also provide two helicopters and two patrol planes. DPS will also provide Texas Rangers to support homicide investigations.
"The rise in violent crime in the city of Dallas is unacceptable, and the Texas Department of Public Safety will assist the Dallas Police Department in their efforts to protect the community and reduce this surge in crime," Abbott wrote in a statement. "Every Texan deserves to feel safe in their own community, and the State of Texas will continue to provide the city of Dallas with the resources they need to crack down on this heinous activity and protect Dallas residents."
Monday, Chief Rene Hall, who plans to leave at the end of the year, said Dallas police were planning a more visible presence in areas with the highest crime.
"There is a full court press to make sure that we go after those individuals who are committing violence in the city of Dallas," she said.
"We are long overdue for a full court press or an 'all hands on deck' approach to public safety in this city," Johnson says.
Hall says she is increasing the police presence in the most dangerous areas, and she is working with state and federal agencies to reduce crime. Johnson says he also wants a monthly report with statistics showing which areas are hardest hit.
Johnson says neighborhood and faith groups can also get involved by talking to police and giving them information about problems they see. He says the same groups protesting after the death of George Floyd and others should be getting more involved to keep their neighborhoods safe.
"We need that same passion. We need those same prayers. We need those same protests," he says. "If Black lives are going to matter, Black lives have to matter."
