DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Dallas Police Association is backing Police Chief Renee Hall’s decision to shake up the department.
Hall announced plans to reduce the number of assistant chiefs to two or three as well cut the number of deputy chiefs from 14 to less than half of that.
She said she’ll use those officers to expand the number of police patrolling the streets.
It’s a move Hall said is necessary because the department lost 500 officers in the last year.
D.P.A. President Mike Mata said the group is supportive of Hall’s plans to make the department more efficient.
“We’re completely in favor of restructuring. The problem is, and has been the problem, is that we’re so top heavy it’s very hard to get anything done. Too many people have to touch a piece of paper before a decision can be made,” he said.
Mata said many officers lacked confidence in their leaders before Hall took over and he expects the changes to help.
“Nobody knows what decisions they can make, nobody is held to making a decision. So, by streamlining the administrative staff, finally those that are in power will be allowed to make those decisions. I mean, division commanders should be able to command their division,” he said.
Hall will interview high-ranking officers and decide who will be re-assigned.
Mata expects the department to be reorganized next month.
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