Future crime data will be limited by a move by Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia.
The otherwise public information is used by both news outlets including Other Side Dallas and by neighborhood groups to monitor community based crime will be harder to access in Dallas based on the secretive police chief’s decisions.
In recent weeks, Garcia has been said to be living on Eddie Garcia Island, by his own staff members. They allude to him being out of touch with both citizens and officers.
Crime Data Accountability
This move puts Garcia squarely at odds with groups seeking police accountability after incidents like the George Floyd protest and lack of responsibility taken by the department after its officers injured bystanders and protestors alike. The city and the department have both been quiet about the Dallas data breach which endangered thousands of prosecutions locally.
It also does not reflect recent actions by Dallas police officers who were caught beating civilians on the streets of Deep Ellum without cause or the recent detention of a family, who were in their own home, in an incident that reminds us of the Botham Jean murder.
Damon Finney, a former Dallas jailer, was not protected by Sheriff Marian Brown when it came to exposure to COVID19 in Dallas jails. His widow wants to know why she is being denied a state death benefit for first responders.
Finney died August 14, 2021 after he was one of many county correctional deputies on mandatory sixteen hour overtime shifts at the height of the COVID19 pandemic.
Per a report in Dallas Observer, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office General Orders state that “any Dallas Sheriff’s Department employee…. Killed in the Line of Duty, will receive Full Honors Service,” which includes casket guards from the department, a detail of federal and state law enforcement officials standing guard, plus a spread of other ceremonial personnel honoring the fallen officer. None of this ever happened for Finney.
On June 14, 2021 the Texas Legislature passed a bill stating correctional officers were among the first responders included in Line of Duty death benefits for coronavirus. Family member benefits are included in the state legislative action.
Damon Finney Not Only Problem For Sheriff Brown
Marian Brown’s administration is accused of threatening her deputies.
Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown is rumored to be using her Jail Internal Affairs team to launch investigations into employees who would not work sixteen hour shifts. These assignments sometimes lasted for up to five consecutive days.
These threats against her own staff are only the start of Brown’s troubles.
In addition, Brown’s office is being sued by both jailers and inmates in a federal lawsuit over her administration of the jail during COVID19.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, the lawsuit accuses Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown of neglecting to protect detainees from the virus, placing them at serious risk of infection or death.
Her office is also in the middle of an investigation into the loss of $600,000 in inmate commissary funds.
Brown is expected to face a primary opponent in 2024 when she is up for re-election.
Damon Finney Life
On October 6, 1970, Damon Keith Finney was born in Pontiac, Michigan to the proud parents of William and Mrs. L.T. Finney. He attended Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church where he accepted Christ at an early age.
He obtained his early years of education in the Pontiac School District. In 1988 he graduated and received his diploma from Pontiac Northern High School and furthered his education at Oakland Community College for an additional 2 years. Damon lived most of his life in Pontiac until he relocated to the Dallas Ft. Worth area in the mid 1990s.
After eleven years of love and friendship he married the love of his life, Tiffany Toussaint on July 9, 2021. Together they made Arlington, Texas their home until his passing.
Damon Finney gained several years of experience in the security industry which inspired his interest in the Correctional Department. In 2006 he began his employment for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department where he diligently served 15 years of service as a Detention Service Officer and made and influenced many lifelong friendships.
He often referred to his coworkers as his second family whom he fearlessly helped and assisted throughout his career.
Per an obituary Finney was a witty, fun loving, caring and compassionate individual with a big heart. He was a wonderful husband, father figure, brother-in-law, brother, and uncle. He was also a wonderful, father to our adopted companion “Spring”.
The obituary continues, Damon was a selfless person who put other’s needs before own and always provided an ear to those seeking advice. He enjoyed working out at the gym and loved traveling whether it was to the beach or his favorite place Las Vegas.
On multiple occassions in the past three weeks, Other Side Dallas staff has watched as DFW Terminal Link busses pass by minority riders at the correct location at the airport terminal for a pick up.
Every Tuesday including yesterday and the two weeks prior Other Side Dallas staff have gone to the airport to watch Terminal Link bus operations and regularly there are drivers that will bypass minorities at Terminal Link locations in Terminals A, C, and D.
DFW Airport Media Relations did not respond to request for comment by email.
DFW Terminal Link One Of Many Challenges
In recent weeks airlines at DFW Airport have had to battle changing mask mandate standards between the federal and state governments and there have been numerous assaults including between passengers and a apassenger assaulting a member of the flight crew.
Airport parking has been a long term issue in Dallas and new parking garages have been built to respond to the area’s growing needs.
American Airlines had a drunk first officer call out from a flight to Texas per allegations by multiple passengers.
The passengers state that flight crew on board the New York to Texas flight, number 2813, stated no one could locate the First Officer, but that he had been drinking the night before.
Per Curtis Blessing with American, “We have no reports that intoxication of any team members played a role in this flight being delayed.”
In follow up emails, American Airlines called the situation a routine call out and denied the allegations. They have previously dealt with drunk crew members harshly.
Drunk First Officer One Of Many Problems
This summer has been a hard one for the airlines and American has shared in those problems. Earlier this summer, there was a fist fight between passengers and more recently in October a flight crew member was assaulted by a passenger.
These incidents are on top of ping pong mask mandate standards that are bouncing between the federal government and Texas, where Governor Abbott has opposed mask mandates.
Per Dealey Principal Beth Wing inappropriate casting caused a school play cancellation. The issue was not a surprise to Wing who waited to act.
The cancellation comes hours before showtime. Parents seem outraged the Dallas Independent School District‘s premier campuses continues in disarray.
The underlying issue is the casting of an African American student as a slave in a school play. The same play has run between fifteen and seventeen previous years without problem.
One parent posted on social media “Do wish that there was a better explanation besides alluding a parent wasn’t happy with the roles their child was given.” Communication has been a frequent criticism for Wing throughout her tenure at Dealey.
Other parents asked if the issue was school leadership and what happened to “the show must go on.”
Dallas ISD would not comment to Other Side Dallas about the issue beyond Wing’s email. The email did not go to all parents, but only those involved with the production.
It is unclear if students will have the opportunity to perform in a different show later.
It is also unclear the staff perspective on the issue either. Both parents and staff confirmed this production has run without problem for years.
More Beth Wing Inappropriate Casting
One parent said Ms. Wing received notification on the issue six weeks ago. The parent said Wing would not consider a conversation on the topic.
Wing has been criticized for her response to professional protestors on campus over the district mask mandate. Since she has allowed unmasked children on campus, several new cases have occurred.
She has also muzzled parent activism in support of the mask mandate. In at least one case she threatened parents over participation in a counter protest.
Generally, confusion has led parents to feeling frustrated. A few parents said Dallas ISD is guilty of inappropriate casting of Beth Wing as a principal and leader.
The Dallas Zoo giraffe deaths made it national when Saturday Night Live took aim at the three recent events and asked if Giraffrey Dahmer was to blame.
Data released by Dallas Independent School Districttells the story. Dealey 7 new cases of COVID19 since dropping the mask mandate. The mandate dropped for two students out of several hundred.
The impact is being felt as several full classrooms are being required to quarantine. This comes after the reckless nature of one parent.
The parent is being enabled by both principal, Beth Wing and PTA President Alishia Salmon.
The DISD coronavirus dashboard shows five cases at Dealey. It does not reflect the seven cases listed in an email to parents.
Dallas County COVID19 numbers are falling. They are rising on the Dealey campus where mask mandates are now ignored.
Dealey 7
Officials expect the Dealey 7 numbers to rise after they surrendered on masks. The mandate has had almost 100% compliance.
Adults using bullhorns hurled accusations at kindergarten students over unfounded abuse claims. Officials did say protestors must stay on sidewalks, but did not maintain that zone. During the October protest parents reported protestors with firearms at school.
Dallas ISD Police and Dallas Police stated there were no arrests during protests.
Protest ring leader, Lauren Davis has not responded to many emails for comment. She is Chief Culture Officer for The Gents Place.
Despite protests, Davis’ children wear masks in other locations around Dallas. There is no record of her complaint anywhere other than Dallas ISD leading up to these events.
The Gents Place did post an ominous question earlier asking which was the better weapon: the AK47 or M16. Some have called it charged with an implicit threat to the school.
Dallas school officials have also declined to respond to emails. These emails from both parents and Other Side Dallas show the district in bunker mode.
Parents say the Dealey PTA leadership, particularly Alishia Salmon, enables the Davis complaint. She talks about “community” without taking any action to stop Ms. Davis for her role in protests.
COVID19 returns to Dealey Montessori magnet school in North Dallas with Dallas Independent School District allowing unmasked students to enter the classroom in violation of their own mask mandates.
Sources say that while COVID19 numbers are reported to be three cases on the Royal Lane campus, the real numbers may be twice that.
COVID19 Returns to Dealey
Dealey Montessori was the site of two dozen protestors harrassing children as young as four jutst two weeks ago causing the school to back down from its own health protection standard.
Lauren Davis, Chief Culture Owner and spouse of The Gents Place, was pushing for her children to be allowed in regular classrooms unmasked despite wearing masks in other parts of their lives.
The Davis family business Twitter account also had an ominous post about which is better: the AK47 or M16 two days prior to the protest in what some called a threat.
No voting for you says Dallas County Elections staff after not allowing a Dallas County registered voter to participate in the nonpartisan election during Early Voting session Friday, October 29, 2021.
Earlier this year hearings were held on Senate Bill 1 (SB1) and House Bill 3(HB3) which Democrats said would make voting harder, but this appears to be poorly trained staff following last year’s departure of Toni Pippins-Poole, a John Wiley Price disciple whose administration was mired in similar accusations.
No Voting For You Despite Public Pledges Otherwise
The county elections department website says in its mission statement it is to “accurately maintain voter registration records,” but it seems difficult at best.
Dallas County Elections staff stated they could not make an accomodation for a voter they admit should have been given a provisional ballot.
A staff member with JJ Koch said that voters who experience problems voting should first demand a provisional ballot. Additionally voters can make a formal complaint here which will be responded to by the full Dallas County Commissioner’s Court.
Eddie Garcia Island is what Dallas Police insiders are calling the freshman chief’s lack of accountability and transparency when dealing with the public.
The issue came up recently as Dallas Police over ruled the recommendation of Internal Affairs over officer discipline after an excessive force incident and instead took the recommendation of the Training Academy.
An officer with a sister law enforcement agency said “Chief Garcia seems to be repeating the errors of Chief Hall. It didn’t work out too well for her or the City of Dallas.”
Eddie Garcia Island Is Just Renee Hall 2.0
Almost a year ago, Reneé Hall raced from her duties as DPD Chief after an inappropriate relationship with Dominique Alexander was exposed.
It was this relationship and not her repeated lies about the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge incident which moved Hall’s move out of the Chief’s office.
At the time the Community Police Oversight Board were asking questions about her accountability, but no action was taken, even after an After Action Report demonstrated a historic failure in responding to the George Floyd protests of 2020.
Chief Garcia’s arrival was supposed to turn the page on the errors of Chief Hall, but now it appears the same problems of insularity and aloofness are happening again.
Another law enforcement source said, “he only engages on his terms and the problem with that is when people reach out in good faith and you dont hear back what do you do?” This person continued, “if you really want to listen to the community you have to listen. You have to return phone calls, you have to return emails, you have to answer questions whether you like it or not.”
A third person noted, “Garcia is too busy using officers for politically motivated ‘investigations’ and not handling the regular shootings in downtown and uptown” which are keeping crowds from returning. “As long as people do not feel safe – downtown Dallas is in a bind.”
