Dallas Blog, Daily News, Dallas Politics, Opinion, and Commentary FrontBurner Blog D Magazine » Police

Is Dallas Primed for a Revolution?

Tim Rogers — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:42:38 +0000

On the first full week of every month, I get the pleasure of broadcasting with Adriana Bate on WRR for about a half hour from One Arts. Now that we’ve moved our offices downtown, that means I get to walk down Flora Street for our 11 o’clock date every day. My trip takes me past the Nasher, the Meyerson, the Winspear, and the Wyly. It’s lovely, especially when the weather is as nice as it is today. But I’ve been studying something on my walk that has caught my eye before: the cobblestones (or bricks, really) that pave the sidewalk. In front of the Meyerson, they are a wreck. Some are missing. Many have become dislodged. We don’t get much practice here in the United States, but over in Europe, where they’ve been at it a bit longer, they know that cobblestones make perfect projectiles to throw in times of revolution. All I’m saying is, if the workers rise up and clash with the police down in the Arts District, the police are in for a tough fight.

Rookie Dallas Police Officer Makes Up an Offense, Charges Awesomely Named Lady With It, Ctd.

Zac Crain — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:01:26 +0000

UPDATE: It’s an epidemic.

What the Dallas Police Dept. Will Never Tell You

Josh Hixson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:53:14 +0000

I was in Dallas police headquarters the other day, doing some research for a story, when I got the rare opportunity to see the inside of a Dallas public information officer’s office. Public information officers are the men and women you see on TV or quoted in the newspaper when a crime happens in Dallas — they are the official voice of the Dallas Police Department.

Anyway, while discussing a case with the officer I happened to notice post-it note on the wall near the telephone. At the top of the note it read, “Never Mention” and went on to list four things:

Confessions
How or why suspect was identified
Evidence
Weapon type

I’m guessing here, but it’s safe to assume that these pointers are designed to keep information from leaking to the public that would tip off any at-large suspects.

Dallas Multicultural Expert, Ctd.

Glenn Hunter — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:24:49 +0000

A free-thinking FBvian maintains that, contrary to Ed Rincon’s point, stereotypes are generally accurate and helpful, and points to this piece to prove it.

Dallas Multicultural Expert Recalls Another Stereotyping Incident By The Cambridge Police

Glenn Hunter — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:27:36 +0000

Whatever you think about the Cambridge, Mass., flap that’s led to today’s beer-drinking session at the White House, Dallas’ Edward T. Rincon says it was “not an isolated incident” with the Cambridge Police Department. Rincon, president of multicultural research firm Rincon & Associates, recalls a 1999 Dallas Morning News story describing how Cambridge training officers once contended that pepper spray doesn’t work on Mexican-American suspects. Why not?, the cops were asked. Their answer: because “Mexicans grow up eating too much spicy food, and because they spend so much time picking peppers in the fields.” Rincon says the remark, which drew outrage from Latino groups and a quick apology from the cops, “illustrates the power of stereotypes and how easily they can be translated to public policy.”

Chief David Kunkle’s Tat

Tim Rogers — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:47 +0000

Yesterday I said that I thought Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle’s tattoo was of Woody the Woodpecker. Not so. Mrs. Kunkle corrects me: the tat is of Road Runner, on account of Kunkle’s having run 35 marathons. Which to me just sounds like showing off. Be that as it may, I apologize for getting my fowl confused.

Extreme Makeover Builds a House, Ctd.

Zac Crain — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:43:11 +0000

A question-asking FrontBurnervian checks in to ask this question:

While the situation is quite sad, they are seriously asking for donations to pay off the mortgage? What’s next — asking for donations to pay the taxes on the new house (since those will be a lot higher than the taxes now)?

The latter question, to me, has always been the quandary with a show like Extreme Makeover.

Extreme Makeover To Build Home For Injured Dallas Police Officer, Ctd.

Zac Crain — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:05:31 +0000

Yes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is building a new crib for injured Dallas police officer Carlton Marshall and his family. But if you want to help out as well, Cheldan Homes has set up a fund to pay off the Marshall family’s current mortgage. Details follow.

OMNIAMERICAN BANK WORKING WITH CHELDAN HOMES TO ACCEPT EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION FAMILY DONATIONS

WHAT: Fans of the TV reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition have an opportunity to help the Marshall family by making a donation to the Cheldan Extreme Family Fund that has been set up through OmniAmerican Bank. These funds will be used to pay off the family’s existing mortgage.

WHEN/
WHERE: Donations are currently being accepted through the Extreme Cheldan website. Donors may also make contributions at any OmniAmerican Bank branch location. For a listing OmniAmerican Bank’s 16 branch locations, go here.

Is The TABC Out of Control?

Nancy Nichols — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:56:11 +0000

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is a powerful agency in the state of Texas. They regulate the sales, taxation, importation, manufacturing, transporting, and advertising of alcoholic beverages.

Over the years, I’ve heard some horror stories from bar and restaurant owners. Yesterday, I ran an interview with Rainmaker Restaurant Group owner Michael Costa. He manages Las Colinas Prime and claims that the TABC harasses them to the point of scaring away customers. During a recent raid, Costa claims an agent pulled a gun on one of the cooks in the kitchen because he had a knife in his hands.

Early Sunday morning, officers with the TABC and Fort Worth police raided the Rainbow Lounge, a gay nightclub in Fort Worth. It’s sounds like it was a nasty scene. One patron ended up in the hospital with a brain injury. Last night witnesses to the ordeal met at Buzzbrews on Lemmon to share stories.

Yow. Zah. I’m having flashbacks to Lee Park in 1971. Where is Stoney Burns when we need him? (Much watch video.) Operators are standing by for your comments.

What’s The Deal With Journalists And Police Chiefs?

Wick Allison — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:52:10 +0000

Once again, Dallas leads the way. And where Dallas leads, Milwaukee follows.