Dallas held a Chief Eddie Garcia introduction press conference this afternoon as he prepares to take his new position leading Dallas Police Department. Questions he faced immeidately were how to bring down violent crime, the inter-office politics of working with other applicants for his job working in the office, and his focus on the night time economy that 24 Hour Dallas is working on.
He noted Dallas reminded him of San Jose – particularly its diversity. In a question about using relationship-based policing model Chief Garcia stated “we are open to any ideas that we can have to ensure residents and visitors are safe, but also businesses thrive.”
He stated that it is important to “ensure businesses are successful” and that in San Jose he had been contacted by the Chamber of Commerce to find out what they could do for San Jose police. His response was “what can the police do for them.”
Garcia also stated that his focus will be violent crime, but that he did not like the term petty crime. What is petty to one, isn’t to another.
Eddie Garcia Introduction
Chief Garcia said it is important that the police community acknowledge that their badges did not always shine as brightly as it should.
He specifically mentioned mistakes being made in a number of cities related to this summer’s protests. He mentioned specific goals of keeping the community, protestors, and officers safe. He did not make specific mention of the issues with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge events or the accountability issues surrounding it.
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