08/23/03  Open Letter to Dallas Mayor Laura Miller

Honorable Mayor Miller:

Dallas citizens deserve better.  

Tuesday, August 14, 2003 (approximately 3:05 p.m.), Dallas Police Officer Dequira (Badge 6512 driving police car 0228)  was pursuing a maroon auto (license TX W5L 905) East on Gladstone Drive in Oak Cliff with lights flashing.  Two African-American suspects stopped the car, ran south into the alley between Brooklyn and Gladstone heading west near my home.  Two different adults approached officer Dequira to inform him the suspects were in the alley.  Officer Dequira refused to take note.  The stopped vehicle's engine was not running. 

From all appearances, Officer Dequira failed to give chase to the individuals simply because they were African-American.  Furthermore, Officer Dequira failed to call other elements. 

Mayor Miller, Officer Dequira's actions were wrong and negligent.  Citizens don't run from the law if they haven't done anything wrong. Police officers who fail to give chase threaten the safety of the community they are hired to protect.  Officer Dequira failed to uphold state law.  Why did this happen?  Police officers should be exemplary public servants. 

After the officer failed his duties, I approached and asked him for his badge number, but he refused to give it to me.  Then, I called his supervisor, Sgt. Saul, who did not want "to hear any of it." and hung up on me.  I then called Sgt. Saul's supervisor and talked to Officer Jeff Ress.  Officer Ress checked and determined Officer Dequira did not chase the African-American suspects because they allegedly left the engine of the stopped vehicle running.  This is simply not true; the vehicle's engine was not running. 

Officer Dequira's actions jeopardized the safety of my neighborhood.  I have small children.  As a parent, I feared for their lives.  What if the suspects had run into my house?  My daughter with her two children had just left and driven ahead of these men by about 20 seconds. 

Why have a police force if it does not enforce the law and arrest criminals?  The lady supervisor who came over after numerous calls I made to the city must have thought it funny that a citizen would even care to complain.  With recent FBI reports designating Dallas as the city with the most crime, this is of utmost concern to us. 

As an Hispanic, it appeared to me Officer Dequira was less inclined to give chase to the suspects because they were African-American. Criminals should be taken off the streets.  Police officers who do not uphold the law should be treated likewise. 

Would you be kind enough to look into this matter?  For the longest time, I felt as if you had a personal vendetta against Chief Bolton.  I was wrong. Apparently Chief Bolton does not have the necessary leadership skills to lead this department and should be replaced. 

There are police officers with enough experience in this country who could do a lot better job than Bolton and provide the best protection for the citizens of our great city.  Former Mayor Guiliani's computerized accounting system tracking crimes committed by precinct may be a great idea; however, as a citizen and stakeholder of our city, I have lost all confidence in our police chief.

I am appalled former Police Officer Derrick C. Evans was ever hired. Hopefully, the review of DPD hiring process initiated by council member Garcia may prevent this from happening again.  Yet, this review is only the beginning of what is really needed.

I fully concur with Dallas Morning News columnist Ruben Navarrette's call for Chief Bolton to either resign or be relieved of his position. I might add we need to go a step further and replace our City Manager, Ted Benavidez, who has definitely not set high standards coupled with accountability for Chief Bolton to better serve and protect the citizens of our city.

Respectfully submitted,

Harry O. Trujillo