The Community Police Oversight Board will meet on June 9th from 5:00 pm-7:30 pm. However, they have not responded to numerous people who have requested to speak.
With less than eight hours prior to the meeting no agenda or details on the public comment period has been released to those asking for these details. Again, the City of Dallas and Dallas Police Department appear to be stifling comments.
Those wishing to comment can include their comments in the comments section here and they will be forwarded to the City of Dallas and Community Police Oversight Board. As has been noted in other places, the City of Dallas has repeatedly stifled public discussion and lied about official actions by the police department.
Watch or Listen to Community Police Oversight Board
Dallas Police funding is up in the air. Rumors swirl that Dallas City Council will defund DPD after Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano indicated a noon announcement today.
Chief of Police Renee Hall’s office had no comment.
Dallas County Schools are not done stopping careers short.
Federal investigators proved last week they are not finished with the Dallas County Schools scandal. Louisiana attorney Richard Reynolds became the latest to join the growing list of photo enforcement felons after he entered a guilty plea in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas to the charge of misprison of a felony.
Misprison of a felony refers to a crime where someone actively conceals a criminal conspiracy and does not report it to authorities. Reynolds helped school bus stop-arm camera operator Force Multiplier Systems bribe politicians and public officials. The return was their endorsement of a lucrative technology.
Reynolds attempted to hide over $800,000 in bribe payments from Force Multiplier CEO Robert Carl Leonard Jr to Ricky Dale Sorrells, the superintendent of Dallas County Schools. Sorrells ensured that his agency approved the $70 million bus camera contract with Force Multiplier. That move ultimately bankrupted Dallas County Schools.
According to the plea, Reynolds admitted his role was to “make it appear as if Leonard and Force Multiplier Solutions were not paying a public official with whom they were doing business.” Reynolds set up shell companies that paid Sorrells “consulting” fees, though Sorrells performed no work.
Another cut-out, Slater Washburn Swartwood Sr, concealed an additional $2 million in bribes to Dallas County Schools Board President Larry Duncan, and Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway, who was the most vocal advocate of photo enforcement on Dallas City Council. For his part, Caraway received $450,000 in cash.
Criminal investigators at the Internal Revenue Service were credited for “following the money trail to uncover ill-gotten gains” that exposed the network of shell companies used to hide public corruption.
Under the plea agreement, Reynolds was charged with a lesser offense that carries the potential sentence of just one year in prison and a fine of $250,000. The other co-conspirators have been sentenced.
Swartwood is scheduled for release from a Dallas halfway house on November 22. Caraway is set to leave Big Springs FCI on April 28, 2023. Leonard is at Oakdale low-security FCI until July 7, 2025. Sorrells is at FCI Beaumont, a minimum security satellite camp until September 2, 2025. Duncan has already served a short term of house arrest.
Dallas County Schools
Dallas County Schools (DCS) was a taxpayer funded school bus transportation government agency. It was founded in 1846 and offered full service and/or supplemental student transportation services to other government entities and localm private, and charter schools in and around Dallas County, Texas. They also served part of Denton County as well. DCS was one of the top student transportation fleets in the nation and operated a fleet of approximately 2,000 buses. They transported more than 75,000 children to and from school safely each day.
Other Side Dallas will update stories on Dallas ISD and other school matters as information becomes available.
One lawyer is supporting George Floyd protestors one case at a time: Jasmine Crockett.
Crockett, who is also running for Texas State Representative in House District 100 has been so vocal in her support of protestors many ink her number onto their arms prior to joining local protests.
George Floyd Protestors Attacked Numerous Ways
The Other Side Dallas has several articles about Dallas police acting violently and inappropriately since local protests began. In one case a local Community Police Oversight Board member asked for information on the training and plan used at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. An article yesterday even showed where the police chief was lying to the public about traffic being impeded – it was Dallas Police blocking both sides of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge – and who initiated conflict.
Assaulting Citizens is not new for Dallas Police. As time goes by victims names become faint memories. One such person is James Harrison.
Dallas Police officers shot Harrison when he walked to his front door carrying a screwdriver in 2015 per video released of the deadly incident.
Harrison, 38, can be seen in the police body-camera video walking to the front door. This is after his mother opens it for the officers and walks outside past them. Harrison, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was in distress that day and his mother called 9-1-1 for assistance. Family members told reporters from local news station WFAA the’ve had to call the police on Harrison before.
Harrison came to the door fiddling with a screwdriver.
WARNING: Graphic violence.
“When you’re dealing with somebody that’s mentally ill, you’re not supposed to agitate, you’re not supposed to move fast, you’re not supposed to inflame,” said Geoff Henley. He was the Harrison family attorney retained in the wrongful death lawsuit against the Dallas Police Department.
The City of Dallas offered a settlement to the Harrison family that was “so humiliating” per an employee with the city who has direct knowledge said is was declined outright.
The video shows officers carrying tasers. The less-lethal weapons were never deployed or considered per the video available.
“They didn’t acknowledge him, they just acknowledged the screwdriver,” said David Harrison, the victim’s brother. “Immediately after [my mother] got out of the way … it went from zero to a hundred.”
Dallas Police Assaulting Citizens Not New
Another tie in to today’s police brutality claims is the lack of assistance by officers. In the video it appears officers were shocked Harrison was still alive.
“He’s alive…he’s alive.” “Should we cuff him?”
Like in the George Floyd protests, officers seem ready to use violence, but not their first aid training. It is unclear how someone is denied the basic humanity of treatment.
Chief Renee Hall has claimed the crowd was unruly and was “attacking the police.” These statements are clearly false.
In this video, the crowd is passive. They are walking about trapped with officers on both ends keteling them in.
The front line is motionless, kneeling – they are literally doing nothing aggressive.
Then the police begin gassing the marchers – with tear gas or smoke is unclear, but the video coming out now is important.
Police Lied – Again
These protestors are marching against police brutality and the police respond with brutality. This is not the first time – this week – where Dallas Police have been less than honest about incidents. Earlier this week there was a gentleman who Dallas police take to the ground and beat while prone and defenseless on the ground.
Alarming Behavior from Dallas City Council is how one viewer described the exchanges between members of Dallas City Council and city staff on Friday, June 5, 2020.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson had a lot of questions for Police Chief Renee Hall during a special meeting about the police response to protests. Before the meeting began two hundred local citizens spoke out about the city’s reaction to ongoing protests. They were almost all outraged about what happened on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
During Friday’s meeting, the mayor wanted to know what tactics were used when more than 600 people were arrested on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on Monday. This line of questioning is similar to that asked by Jose Rivas, the District 7 representative on the Dallas Community Police Oversight Board.
Later in the meeting though there was open yelling between City Council members including Mayor Eric Johnson, District 4 member Carolyn King Arnold, and District 7 member Adam Bazaldua. It also included City Manager TC Broadnax.
Alarming Behavior From City Council During June 5 Emergency Meeting
Dallas City Council: Wednesday June 10, 2020
Dallas City Council is supposed to also address and possibly vote on the Visit Dallas contract this coming Wednesday, June 10. It is unclear if that item will remain on the agenda, but many of the same people who pushed to not express solidarity with Black Lives Matter now want an eight figure contract for Visit Dallas, who has a long record of financial problems.
Renee Hall appears to be in trouble. A Dallas Community Police Oversight Board member, Jose Rivas, is seeking answers from Chief Renee Hall about the personnel and their training after another bystander was hit by less lethal rounds Saturday, May 30 and lost his eye, seven teeth, and had his jaw broken.
Rivas notes that these personnel should be identifiable by Chief Hall’s own records used prior to the release of less lethal rounds. He is also asking for copies of their Texas licensing records.
Brandon Saenz is a 26 year old black man. He, his family, and lawyers are demanding Police Chief Renee Hall identify the person or persons responsible and denounce the incident. In a press conference earlier in the week though, Chief Hall says she is “not here to be liked.”
Brandon was out peacefully protesting police brutality and now he’s a victim,” Washington said. “We can’t continue to have innocent individuals injured by police officers who have taken an oath to serve and protect.”
Police Chief Hall is also in trouble for her decision to kettle protestors on the Margaret Hunt Bridge earlier in the week. Hundreds were injured and detained by Dallas Police Department officers – despite information that District Attorney John Creuzot would not prosecute – after peacefully protesting in Dallas outside the curfew zone.
Dallas protests moved to a ridiculous riot ride on Wednesday, June 3rd when fifty cars decorated with Black Lives Matter signs and messages drove by Lew Sterrett Justice Center honking and holding up traffic.
The participating cars turned onto Commerce Street, made a quick U-turn, then turned back down Riverfront Boulevard before continuiing the cycle.
Lee Daugherty, in a Facebook post, said, “An absolutely critical part of sustained protests is using different ways to challenge the system from a diversity of people.”
This method seemed to confuse local police and sheriff’s deputies who in some cases circled five times unsure what to do next.
The protest lasted about 45 minutes.
Dallas Protests Continue
After the violence earlier in the week by Dallas Police Department it appears protestors are taking a new approach to avoid injury.
As previously reported several citizens and bystanders have been brutalized by Dallas Police officers either not engaged in the protest at all or protesting police brutality.
The Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas hides behind city government on placing a Black Lives Matter message on its wall. The Omni Hotel is iconic in the Dallas skyline and often will use its building for messages of support to corporate partners or major events occuring in Dallas.
On Tuesday night, it’s neighbor, Reunion Tower, went dark to honor the Tuesday #BlackOut protesting police brutality. Dallas’ famed Reunion Tower showed a significant show of support for black lives and citywide demonstrations against police brutality by turning off its lights — something the landmark had only done once previously in its 42-year history.
According to social media posts which announced the decision, the operators of the tower said the building “stands for people – all people. The time is now to engage with compassion, patience and understanding.”
A petition has been started to have the Omni honor Black Lives Matter, but management claims they can only do so with city approval.
However the petition ends with the following words: “In times of strife, [sharing] statements such as [‘Black Lives Matter’] can change the morale and the mood of an entire city. The Omni can make a show of solidarity and serve as a powerful vessel for change by displaying those 3 words.”
Omni Hotel History
In the past the Omni has chosen to celebrate both the city’s many sports-related and social accomplishments and other cities also including the Houston Astros.
Dallas’ Central Track was the first to break the story. An update to their article finds that Omni staff lied about permission to change the messaging of their hotel.
The Omni receives significant support from taxpayers through the corporate Visit Dallas‘ and their “promotion” of the hotel. As hours roll by it becomes clear that the Omni Hotel is no friend of equality. Stick with us on other topics related to Visit Dallas and the Omni Hotel.
