Rawlings Promises More Security At DPD HQ
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings promised Sunday to look into getting extra security at the Dallas Police Department's headquarters after a man opened fire on the building over the weekend. This will be one of the top priorities for city council members in the coming days.
Crime scene tape still marks off an area along South Lamar Street, where the police headquarters is located. Many glass windows at the building are boarded up after being damaged by bullets. Amazingly, no police officers were injured.
"Our Dallas police officers risk their lives daily to keep us safe," Rawlings said in a statement released late Sunday. "In turn, it is our responsibility as elected officials to make sure we do everything within reason to ensure they return home to their families every day."
Rawlings is waiting on the results of a department security review to determine his next course of action.
James Boulware is accused of being behind the attack. Authorities said that he planted pipe bombs outside of the police headquarters and fired at officers from an armored van. Law enforcement officials stated that Boulware was killed by a sniper after a chase and standoff in nearby Hutchins.
The suspect's mother, Jeannine Hammond, explained that her son often struggled with psychological problems. In fact, she was attacked by him two years ago and arrested. That is what led officials to give her custody of Boulware's son, but Hammond dropped the charges.
Boulware was reportedly angry, blaming police for taking away his 12-year-old child. Hammond was shocked to see her son take out his aggression on authorities. She assumed that he would come after her, she said.
"James had problems," Hammond said. "His son could lots of times talk reasoning into him, even though the child is a child, not even a teenager yet."
Hammond added that she tried to help Boulware by organizing an intervention when he threatened to kill himself. "It's very heartbreaking that your child would feel so alienated, feel so totally hopeless that they would go out and do this to other people that really hadn't done anything to them," Hammond said.
Boulware's remains have been turned over to the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office.
Meanwhile, there are now 14 officers on administrative leave, as is standard procedure after any shooting that involves police. Authorities are still investigating the incident. Weapons and ammunition recovered from the scene is still being processed and analyzed. It could be 12 weeks before the case is wrapped up.
"I think he wanted to be taken out," Hammond said. "You don't go shoot at a police station and expect to get out alive."
