Dallas’ new police chief, Daniel Comeaux, was interviewed on his first day in office, leaving citizens with more questions than answers.
Comeaux officially took the helm on April 23, following a nationwide search that led to his appointment to head one of the largest police departments in the country.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert announced Comeaux’s selection, assuring citizens that “Special Agent in Charge Comeaux has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of successfully addressing complex crime challenges across large-scale, diverse populations and geographic areas—including internationally.”
‘Complex’ appears to be the operative word as Comeaux appeared stifled in his attempts to address Dallas’ large-scale issues during his interview with a reporter from WFAA on April 23.
When the reporter mentioned the “City of Dallas’ mandate from the HERO amendments to hire and maintain more officers,” he asked if Comeaux could meet that requirement.
Comeaux initially responded to the question, stating, “I’m going to do my very best to meet it,” but when the reporter asked if the mandate was reasonable, the police chief was interrupted by an unseen and unidentified woman, whose voice was heard in the background of the video.
In part, the woman responded, “So, he’s not going to answer that question, so you can move on to the next question.”
The reporter again addressed Comeaux: “You’re not going to answer that question?”
Comeaux is seen in the video with his lips pursed. Before Comeaux could open his mouth to respond, the woman said, “I’m telling you, he’s not going to answer that question.”
Comeaux also did not respond to a question from the reporter regarding police response times. “It’s nearly 12 minutes for Priority One calls; it’s 4 hours for Priority Three calls. Is that acceptable?”
To which, the woman, once again interrupted, saying, in part, “I’m telling you again, he’s not going to answer that question. I’m telling you, he’s not going to answer that question.”
A similar response was given by the woman when a KRLD reporter asked about the police department when it comes to their federal partners and illegal immigration.
Enforcement of illegal immigration has been a topic of contention with the Dallas Police Department, as former Interim Dallas Police Chief Michael Igo, who announced his retirement on April 16, garnered attention for his contentious stance on the enforcement of illegal immigration, especially in relation to stops and searches.
As first reported by The Dallas Express, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into the City of Dallas concerning its police department’s failure to comply with state and federal immigration laws.
Commenters on Instagram were quick to note Comeaux’s forced silence during his first day on the job:
“So the “new“ police chief needs a babysitter during questions on day one!???” posted barrett__5.
“How about be a leader and take charge on Day 1. Answer the hard questions,” added hughesbt007.
“Damn he has a handler,” stated jonstarnes.
As reported by The Dallas Express, the Dallas HERO (Honest Elections and Reliable Oversight) initiative arose as a grassroots effort led by a group of Dallas citizens, activists, and some political figures advocating for reforms in governmental accountability, safety, and financial management.
Rising crime rates, concerns over inadequate public safety funding, and issues with transparency and accountability in city governance sparked the movement. Supporters of HERO argue that these challenges call for increased oversight and citizen engagement, which led to the creation of propositions S, T, and U.
Propositions S and U received strong approval from City voters despite significant resistance from the City’s political establishment. Proposition U has been the most contentious, requiring the City to maintain a police force of at least 4,000 officers and allocate 50% of new revenue toward funding the police and fire pension systems.
It remains to be seen whether Comeaux’s puppet strings will be cut so he can begin performing the job citizens have entrusted him with.