Dustin Dillard is being promoted by the Dallas Police Department despite his significant involvement in the assault of Tony Timpa. Dillard has been promoted to Senior Corporal – a position which provides front line field training to new officers.
Dillard is one of four officers implicated in the Tony Timpa excessive force case and per public video pinned tony Timpa to the ground for almost fifteen minutes.
The promotion comes as tactical unit officer Daniel Jamieson is arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and Chief Garcia says he is appalled and embarrassed for two officers, one who was a training officer, who did not stop to render aid to the victim in a car crash which happened after a short police chase.
Dustin Dillard Promotion and Tony Timpa
In August 2016, Timpa died at the hands of four Dallas Police officers. The result are accusations of excessive force and a civil rights case where the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that Dallas Police do not hold qualified immunity.
The city is currently representing Dillard and three other officers — Raymond Dominguez, Sgt. Kevin Mansell and Danny Vasquez in that case. In April 2022, the city appealed to the United States Supreme Court to prevent the case from being heard by a jury. Yesterday, the Supreme Court denied certiorari so a jury trial could proceed.
At the time of his death, Timpa was a 32 year old local executive who lived in Rockwall. He called 911 and stated he had depression and schizophrenia, but had not taken his medication.
Timpa had been handcuffed by local security when Dallas police arrived on scene. Police officers then further restrained him on the ground using zip ties on his feet.
In video later released, Timpa is heard saying, “You’re gonna kill me!” and officers replying “yes.”
On a custodial death report submitted to the state in 2016, the department answered “no” to questions about whether Timpa resisted arrest, threatened, or otherwise fought officers.
After he fell unconscious, the officers assumed he was asleep and, rather than confirm that he was breathing or feel for a pulse. Responding paramedics would later administer versed – a potent benzodiazepine sedative despite him likely already not breathing.
Officials on scene are later heard saying, “he didn’t just die down there, did he?”
A Dallas County Medical Examiner later stated Timpa’s cause of death was a homicide, sudden cardiac death due to “the toxic effects of cocaine and the stress associated with physical restraint.”
Within twenty minutes of arrival, Dillard and three other officers caused Timpa to stop breathing. On body cam video, Dillard – now a field training officer can be heard saying, “I hope I didn’t kill him.”