Hearing reports of a shake-up within the Dallas Police Department today

We have received reports that Assistant Chief's, Sgt's.,Lt's and other high ranking officials are being reassigned. Do I smell another shakeup within the Dallas police? What is going on in Dallas? Hope this is the cleansing process that makes Dallas better, so we can gain trust in the Dallas Police Department.Stay Tuned


UPDATE :

I am pleased to announce the promotion of Lieutenant Chesley L. Williams to the rank of Deputy Chief effective June 29, 2011.

Lieutenant Chesley L. Williams

Chesley L. Williams is a 26-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department. He currently supervises the Media Relations Office where he and his staff serve as the departmental liaison to the many news agencies in north Texas.

Lieutenant Williams has held a variety of progressively important assignments since joining the Dallas Police Department in 1984. He worked initially at the Northwest Patrol Division as a police officer and then served as a detective in the Family Violence Unit. Promoted to sergeant in 1990 he worked in Legal Services and then returned to supervise the Family Violence Unit for seven years. In 1999 he was promoted to lieutenant and spent three years as a patrol watch commander, two years as a Narcotics Division commander, and five years directing the Crimes Against Children Unit. He has served in the Media Relations post since 2010.

Lieutenant Williams holds undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Criminal Justice from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the John McPhaul Achievement Award from the Texas Council on Family Violence, the state of Texas Public Service Award, and the Professionalism Award conferred by the Southwestern Legal Foundation. His departmental recognition includes the Police Commendation, Certificate of Merit, and Certificate of Civic Achievement Awards, and safe driving, perfect attendance, and marksmanship bars.

Lieutenant Williams and his wife, Donna, a patrol supervisor at the Northeast Patrol Division, have five children.  They have also been active foster parents for the last twelve years.

6-25-11 3:03 p.m. Source -DPD Facebook Page

Following investigations by the Internal Affairs Division and disciplinary hearings this afternoon, Police Chief David O. Brown terminated three officers from employment with the Dallas Police Department.  The officers are Senior Corporal Cathryn Lafitte #8641, Sergeant Hector Roa #7374 and Police Officer Lavar Horne #8345. 

On February 9, 2011, Senior Corporal Lafitte visited a Plano, TX hospital emergency room and during her visit became involved in a disturbance that resulted in a response by the Plano Police Department.  Senior Corporal Lafitte later posted comments on Facebook which by their nature would have a tendency to adversely affect, lower or destroy public respect and confidence in the Dallas Police Department or in her as a police officer.  During the period of May 19, 2011 through May 25, 2011 Senior Corporal Lafitte was absent without leave and on May 19, 2011 she violated the departmental sick leave policy.    

On February 7, 2010, Sergeant Hector Roa was off duty and in civilian clothing when he became involved in an altercation at a Greenville Avenue Bar that led to his arrest for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  During this off-duty incident, Sergeant Roa was found to be intoxicated in a public place and was carrying a secondary weapon with which he had not qualified.  On September 3, 2010, while Sergeant Roa was on Administrative Leave, he engaged in conduct which resulted in him receiving a citation for Reckless Conduct, was found to be intoxicated and was untruthful to a supervisor.

On April 28, 2011, Police Officer Horne conducted a traffic stop during which he conducted a search of the vehicle and seized a handgun and marijuana.  The occupants of the vehicle were allowed to leave with no enforcement action taken.  Officer Horne did not deliver the property to the Departmental custodian prior to the end of his shift, but instead placed the weapon in his personal bag and threw the marijuana away.  During the Internal Affairs’ investigation, it was discovered that on two separate occasions Officer Horne had failed to devote his entire time and attention to the business of the department.  Additionally, during April 2011, Officer Horne failed to follow established Departmental policies and procedures when he deactivated his Digital Video Recorder during the course of conducting traffic stops, operated his city vehicle without activating the Mobile Work Station and failed to mark out his location while conducting traffic stops.   

Under civil service rules each of the officers have the right to appeal their terminations.

In addition to the disciplinary action, Officer Lavar Horne was arrested on two charges, Theft by a Public Servant and Tampering with Evidence.  Both charges are Third Degree Felonies which are punishable by incarceration of from 2 to 10 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.