Veteran Dallas Police Officer Voices Concerns about Department

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – A 36 year veteran of the Dallas Police Department is speaking out about concerns he has about the department.

Officer Nick Novello told WBAP’s Rick Roberts Show Tuesday that he fears police Chief Renee Hall won’t ask the city council for more money or more staffing amid a shortage of Officers in the department.

“What I’m hearing is that Chief Hall has been told that more money and more staffing is off the table,” said Novello. “It’s just something that’s not negotiable at this point in time.”

Chief Hall has said that she continues to assess the needs of the department. She is expected to update members of the council on staffing at a briefing Wednesday.

Novello said he’s worried that a shortage of officers is leading to some 911 calls being delayed and not answered quick enough. He described a call to Roberts that he said he was still in the cue nearly two hours after it came in.

“It reads as follows,” said Novello. “Female said she had been assaulted and she has a knife. States she’s about to kill.”

The Dallas Police Department says it’s investigating Novello’s allegations.

To hear the entire interview click here.