Dallas Police Chief Finalists Introduced at Community Meet-and-Greet
DALLAS – A significant step in the selection of Dallas’ next chief of police took place on Tuesday evening when the five finalists for the position met with local residents at City Hall.
This event allowed the community to interact directly with the candidates, providing an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns and expectations for the future leadership of the Dallas Police Department. City manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert expressed her intention to appoint the new chief by next week.
Meet the Finalists
Michael Igo
Among the candidates is Michael Igo, who currently serves as the interim chief. With over 33 years in the department, Igo stated, “The 33.5 years that I’ve spent on this department have prepared me for this role. I’ve got a deep understanding of this department. I know its strengths. Its weaknesses. I know the commanders.”
Catrina Shead
Catrina Shead, another internal candidate and assistant chief, emphasized her bond with the city, sharing, “The person that I am is because of this city. Every aspect of this city made me so I understand that, so I owe this city a debt of gratitude and it is time for me to be a part of the process to ensure it is positive and going forward.”
Roberto Arredondo Jr.
Roberto Arredondo Jr. brings a unique perspective as the chief of police in Carrollton, having previously served 23 years with the Dallas Police Department. He remarked, “To me, everything is in place that needs to be in place for success in the future. I understand how it functions. I understand what the goals are and what the mission is here.”
Brian Boetig
Bringing a different angle to the role is Brian Boetig, a retired Assistant Director with the FBI. He expressed his independent investigative approach, stating, “My job was always to come in as an independent person and ask the questions: why are we doing things this way and if the answer was because we’ve always done it that way, I knew there were a couple of layers that I needed to pull back to figure out if we are doing it the most effective and efficient way.”
Daniel Comeaux
Lastly, Daniel Comeaux serves as the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Houston. He noted his impartial approach with a focus on duty, stating, “Someone that comes in owing no favors to anyone. Just want to do a great job. Take care of the officers and take care of the citizens.”
Challenges Ahead for the New Chief
The new police chief will have to address significant challenges, particularly one that previous chiefs did not encounter. In November, a city measure was passed, amending the city charter to mandate an increase in the police force to 4,000 officers.
Currently, the department is short about 900 officers, a concern highlighted by the Dallas HERO, the organization that advocated for the charter change. They have indicated they may pursue legal action if the city does not take steps to comply with the mandate. Earlier this year, the city council established a hiring goal of 300 new officers, but interim chief Igo cautioned that achieving higher numbers will require pulling existing officers from the streets for training, complicating recruitment efforts.
These pressing issues present a significant task for the individual selected to lead the Dallas Police Department as it seeks to enhance public safety and community relations.
Source: The information in this article is provided by the City of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department.
