Dallas Police Officers' Families Criticize Chief, Mayor & City Council
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - After the recent murders of law enforcement officers, Amber says she worries more now than ever about whether her husband, a Dallas police officer and new father, will come home every night.
"Yes, they have a target on their backs."
She strongly disagrees with Chief David Brown's policy of releasing names of officers involved in deadly force situations. "I understand you want to release names to make people happy, but he used to be in the trenches, just like every other officer and for him to say 'I'm ok with releasing names so quickly', he's putting that target on their backs."
Chief Brown didn't comment Thursday, but earlier this week, he said the officers' names are releasable information.
Reverend Ronald Wright with Justice Seekers Texas agreed.
"Those officers who made bad and poor decisions, they should be exposed."
He says when the public knows the officers' names, they can look into their records, like they did on one recent case.
"Independent investigators prove he had a background of doing things that were bad. And most officers who've done that have bad backgrounds."
Amber is one of dozens of police officers relatives' who attended a news conference Thursday at the Dallas Police Association, the city's largest union.
They demanded security upgrades at police sub-stations three months after a suspect fired shots into Dallas police headquarters.
That building was recently fixed, but no work has been done on the sub-stations.
Family members, like Paul, an officer's husband, says they also want body cameras for every officer. "Mr. Mayor, Dallas council members, my question is this: What are you waiting for? Dallas has an operating budget of more than $2 billion dollars."
A police department spokesman said Thursday the chief has nothing to announce about security upgrades at police buildings.
Among the relatives at the news conference, Peyton, an officer's 12-year-old daughter. "I wonder if my dad will come home at night to tuck me into bed, to help me with my homework, watch my volleyball game, or give me a hug and hear about my day. He is still a hero."
Vinika, an officer's wife criticized the national news media, who she said "gave more attention to anti-police activists than the silent majority who support police officers."
As for Amber, she says it's hard to ignore the changing attitudes toward police. "A lot on social media, I'm hearing that on remember on 9/11, how first responders were our heroes, and here we are 14 years later, and everyone hates them."
Reverend Wright says he doesn't hate the police. He says communities need good officers.
Chief Brown said Tuesday his dedicated men and women who wear the badge need the public's support now more than ever during this difficult time.
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