March 25, 2016

Scott Griggs
Councilman District 1 City of Dallas
1500 Marilla Street
Suite 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201
Dear Councilman Griggs,
The Black Police Association of Greater Dallas Board of Directors strongly supports the
citizens of Dallas; their well-being and safety are our most important responsibility. Please be
assured that we value the preservation of life and the protection of property as solemnly as
humanly possible. As such, we believe that public safety and community maintenance
require a committed effort from the police department, and reciprocation from the citizens.
For a dozen years, Dallas saw reductions in crime rates, and the growth of police-community
relations. Collectively, this relationship has worked, and must continue to work.
During this time, the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas has demonstrated
unparalleled support for the Chief of Police, without regard to race, gender, or other external
factors. Most recently, this was evident in the support given to our current chief in
September/October 2015. The current atmosphere within the Dallas Police Department is
one of vengeance, distrust, retaliation, and failure to employ the most prudent use of
manpower. We believe that as a professional organization of police officers, that this has
severely crippled the ability to best fight crime. Subsequently, the executive board of the
Black Police Association has overwhelmingly voted to reject the continued leadership of this
department by David O. Brown. This decision was not hastily made. We attempted at every
opportunity possible to work with him, and to provide constructive input to reduce a
spiraling crime rate. Since our commitment was to the citizens, and what was best for the
protection of laws, and the preservation of property, we felt this decision had to be made
without hesitation.
Our board members respectively submit to each of you, Honorable Mayor Mike Rawlings,
City Council Members, and our City Manager, A.C. Gonzalez, that we can no longer blindly
support the current Chief of Police, David O. Brown. The department is at risk of erupting
into chaos. This cannot happen to the great city of Dallas and its fine citizens. As such, we
emphatically state that we believe his tenure as Chief of Police should end.
Additionally, we respectively request that each of our board members who are Dallas Police
employees be protected from retaliation. Retaliation may come in the form of involuntary,
unwarranted transfers, change in work hours, or denial of privileges extended to non-board
members. Although courageous in our decision, we still demand to be legally shielded from
adverse employment actions simply because we have engaged in constitutionally protected
activities. We must continue to represent our members and their positions on the current
state of our great police department. Again, we do not support the continued tenure of
David O. Brown, as Chief of Police.
If you wish to discuss this matter, you may contact me at (214) 421.7644 or email at
bpaoffice@bpadallas.org.
Respectfully,

Thomas L. Glover Sr.

President
Black Police Association of Greater Dallas