Breaking Dallas News – Page 19 – The Other Side Dallas

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023

Dallas Disaster Training

Dallas disaster training is open to citizens of Dallas for free this August.

The City of Dallas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program teaches community members about disasters that affect the Dallas area.

This is a free course that does not require identification but does require pre-registration.

It is ideal for individuals who areactive in their neighborhood. Those interested in emergency/disaster preparedness and interested in helping out in their neighborhood/community during disasters.

Throughout this course, participants receive training on disaster preparedness. This includes preparing for yourself and your family. The course will include basic first aid, light search and rescue, fire safety and more.

Dallas Disaster Training Program

Dallas CERT training starts with coursework on preparation and the CERT organization.

It continues with disaster medical operations, basic disaster psychology, and fire safety and utility control.

CERT programs normally cover basic search and rescue. They often discuss terrorism events and how a local CERT team might be used.

The course does not provide citizens with the skills or experience to respond to major incidents like Dallas’ monkeypox incident.

Residents must attend all three classes to receive a course completion certificate and register online.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

DPD Property Room Shooting

A DPD property room shooting required officers to respond to their own facility for a firearm discharge.

The Dallas Police Department is investigating the accidental discharge of a firearm at the Dallas Police Property Room. The property room is located on Baylor Street just south of Deep Ellum.

An employee was shot in the arm while processing evidence at that location around 8:30AM this morning.

Dallas Police were called to the location with Dallas Fire Rescue.

The employee was taken to Baylor Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Dallas Police could not confirm if the employee shot was a sworn officer or civilian.

DPD Property Room Shooting Case Information

The investigation is ongoing and documented under case number 133923-2023. Other Side Dallas will update with new information as it becomes available.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

Santos Vive

Santos Vive coalition received a city proclamation yesterday at City Hall in the Flag Room in a ceremony filled with speeches, but questioning change.

The proclamation ceremony was attended by dozens and a wide array of media. Notably absent was Mayor Eric Johnson.

The city honored the life and legacy of Santos Rodriguez. Rodriguez died a twelve year old, shot and killed, by Dallas police officer Darrell Lee Cain fifty years ago.

The city issued a proclamation designating Monday as “Santos Rodriguez Day.”

Santos and his brother David, were detained by police investigating the theft of $8 of gasoline.

Officer Cain played Russian Roulette with the pair trying to force a confession. He was arrested and convicted of murder with malice, but served half his five year sentence.

At Monday’s cremony, current police chief, Eddie Garcia noted, “This was an individual that never deserved to wear the badge.”

Vive Santos

The Santos Vive Coalition consists of professors from Dallas College, KERA, The Dallas Mavericks organization, and numerous others.

The week’s memorial will continue with lectures, a film screening, and special radio program hosted by EcoLatino.

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Crow Family Shooting?

Are Dallas Police at a Crow family shooting? Dallas Police are currently on scene of the 3200 block of Jacotte Circle in East Dallas.

The home is listed to be owned by Stuart Mitchell Crow and is held by Crow Family Administrators.

An adult male suffered a self-inflected gunshot wound per Dallas Police Department. He was transported in unknown condition to a local hospital.

The scene is currently secured by both Dallas police and private security.

Crow Family Shooting

The family has been under intense scrutiny recently.

There is a Senate investigation into Harlan Crow’s tax activity. There are also separate questions about his close relationship with US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Santos Rodriguez Proclamation

A Santos Rodriguez memorial proclamation occurs today in the flag room at Dallas City Hall at 10:00AM.

Council Member Jesse Moreno (D2) will proclaim July 24 as Día de Santos Rodriguez.

The event will consist of coalition affiliated organization representatives speaking on this event’s historical significance.

The Santos Vive Coalition is a conglomeration of organizations intent on the preservation of the history of this incident.

Santos Rodriguez Life

On the morning of July 24, 1973, 30-year-old Dallas Police Officer Darrell Lee Cain murdered Rodriguez, a 12-year-old who was sitting in Cain’s vehicle.

Cain shot Rodriguez while playing Russian Roulette trying to force a confession from he and his brother.

Cain was sentenced to the minimum five years in prison for murder with malice. He was released in September 1979 He served just two-and-a-half-years of his sentence.

The proclamation comes as another case gets ready to go before a civil jury in September – the case of Tony Timpa.

July 19, 2023July 19, 2023

RIP Chief David Kunkle

Chief David Kunkle will be laid to rest today after battling Lewy body dementia. He was 72.

The funeral for the former Chief of Police in Dallas and Arlington will be later today.

Kunkle’s life and legacy will be celebrated today at 10:00AM at the Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home.

Services will be available by livestream.

RIP Chief David Kunkle

Kunkle served as Dallas’ top cop from 2004 until his retirement in 2010.

Kunkle is credited for improving officer morale and enacting smart policies that created nationwide ripples.

His first assignment was Dallas’ Northwest Patrol Division in 1972. He also served as police chief in Grand Prairie and Arlington.

In a written statement, Chief Eddie García of Kunkle, “he left a legacy and very high bar to achieve for any leader of this organization.”

In an statement to Dallas Police, Garcia said Kunkle was a progressive chief who was “willing to make tough decisions.”

Garcia continued, “His leadership echoes today in how we police our city and in our current policies and procedures.”

Kunkle was also police chief for Arlington. A statement by their city said in part Kunkle was a “remarkable man and public servant.” He also served as Deputy City Manager there.

In 2011, he ran for mayor against Mike Rawlings. Former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller wrote an op-ed for The Dallas Morning News calling him Dallas’ “unlikely savior.”

July 18, 2023July 17, 2023

Harlan Crow Headlines

Harlan Crow headlines return to national papers this week as the local developer refuses to cooperate with Senate investigators.

Investigators from the US Senate Finance Committee are trying to determine if Crow used his superyacht as a tax deduction vehicle. The yacht’s registration says it is part of a for profit entity.

The wealthy often lower their taxes buying and operating their jets and yachts.

Crow follows the formula through a company that purported to charter the yacht. Per Pro Publica, the way Crow uses the yacht raises questions about his compliance with the tax code.

Pro Publica reports that Crow generally paid an average income tax rate of 15% per IRS data in their possession.

Crow lawyers argue that the US Senate investigation violates the separation of powers between Congress and the courts.

Harlan Crow Headlines Continue Bad National Press

Earlier this year it ProPublica reports Crow had a close relationship with Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas. A relationship fed with lavish gifts.

Specifically, it appears these trips on the Crow superyacht are gifts that would total in the thousands of dollars. These gifts would require a gift tax form.

These gifts could result in higher taxes for Crow including penalties, but the larger question looms. What did he gain by these tax advantageous gifts.

Earlier reports also show Crow holds a second citizenship. This is not illegal, but is referenced as a cash for citizenship scheme.

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023

Learn To Build Computers

Learn to build computers at home. This is a free program being offered in two sessions the next two weekends by a current Townview Magnet student and Dealey Montessori alum.

The presentation is part of a Girl Scout Gold Award project.

The sessions are for 8th – 12th grade girls interested in STEM programming.

Session times are 11:15AM – 1:15PM on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

A second session will take place from 10:00AM – 12:00PM on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

The sessions will take place at the Dallas Public Library located at 6121 Worth Street, Dallas, Texas 75214. Computers will be donated to a shelter for homeless youth.

Participants will not take home a computer of their own. They will have the skills to build one from components significantly cheaper than retail prices.

Learn To Build Computers

The project had one parent wondering if the City of Dallas considered employing high school students in tech. The City of Dallas has been without municipal court on Thursday, July 13, and again on Fridy, July 14 due to tech issues.

The city states those tech issues are unrelated to the ransomware attacks

July 14, 2023July 13, 2023

Muni Court Closed Again

Muni court closed again in Dallas as tech issues continue to plague the City of Dallas.

Per city officials, Municipal Court cannot accept payments in person, online, or by phone due to “tech” issues.

City officials continue claims this is not related to the previous ransomware attack. That issue held city services hostage and took more than a month to correct.

There are no court hearings, trials, or jury duty Friday, July 14.

All cases planned for Friday, July 14 will be reset. Updated court dates will be mailed to the address the court has on file.

Citation payments due while the Municipal Court system is down will be accepted after service is restored. You can also mail in any payments, requests, or documents.

Service affected included public safety, the courts, and the library system.

Muni Court Closed Again

Information Technology issues have plagued the city for more than a decade.

Beyond the recent ransomware attack there is also the March 2021 Dallas police data loss. The public was never provided with a full picture of the data issues then, but rumors persist it contributed to Chris Caso’s departure.

It is unclear when city and citizen data will be safe again.

July 13, 2023July 13, 2023

Municipal Court Down Again

Municipal court down again in Dallas after another tech issue hits city services.

The court will not hold any trials, jury duty, hearings or walk-in court cases on Thursday, July 13. This is due to a technical issue per a City of Dallas press release.

Citation payments due while the court system is down will be accepted after service is restored.

Cases for Thursday will be reset and updated court dates will be mailed out.

Municipal Court Down Again

Per city officials this is not related to the previous ransomware attack which took more than a month to correct.

Information Technology issues have plagued the city for more than a decade.

Another issue has been City of Dallas hiring practices focusing on diversity over competency.