DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall announced Thursday the reassignment of approximately 20 police officers and a planned review and overhaul of operations of the Dallas Police Department’s Vice Unit.
The Chief has been conducting a “top-to-bottom” review of DPD since her September arrival. She is expected to announce a reorganization of the police department’s operations in the coming weeks. Chief Hall said her evaluation process surfaced some significant irregularities in Vice, and those issues need immediate analysis and scrutiny.
“The irregularities are serious,” said Hall, “and it’s important to immediately launch a more thorough assessment and examination of this unit’s operations. At the moment. There are more questions than answers, and that’s why we have to take a deeper dive into this unit’s protocols. Concurrently, we have developed a plan to decentralize enforcement of the crimes that have been handled by Vice.”
Chief Hall said she will shift responsibility for crimes such as prostitution and gambling to the city’s area substations and other units. She emphasized that the reassigned officers will be shifted into five areas of critical enforcement need such as domestic violence and robbery crimes.
Hall also said the City has contracted with a group of external and seasoned law enforcement officials who are members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The group is organized as a company called No Limit Investigative and Security Services to assist in the examination of the Vice unit.
“These outside experts will assist us in the evaluation and examination of the Vice unit,” said Hall. “Clearly, to me, there are inconsistencies in Vice’s operations, and that needs to be addressed. This division must exhibit the highest level of integrity and accountability because of the types of crime it enforces.”
Hall said she is uncertain when the examination will be complete.
“The outside group is composed of former executive police officers,” said Hall. “They understand the need for rigid controls in the Vice unit; we have to establish if the irregularities are isolated or if they are institutionalized. I’m not sure how long this evaluation will take.”
Chief Hall emphasized that gambling and prostitution crimes will remain important enforcement issues. Specialized undercover operations will be handled by Narcotics and other units.
“We will carefully monitor this decentralized enforcement,” said Hall. “It may even improve enforcement because the patrol officers know their neighborhoods and where these crimes could be occurring.”
Hall was named Chief of Police in Dallas last summer.
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