The Dallas City Council approved a settlement of up to $2.8 million with the widow of Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, one of five officers killed in the July 7, 2016, downtown ambush.
The vote occurred on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, just days before the 10th anniversary of the deadliest incident in Dallas Police Department history. Katrina Ahrens filed multiple lawsuits against the City and related entities, alleging mishandling of records, mail, and donations intended for the families of the slain officers.
A gunman opened fire on officers providing security for a peaceful protest on July 7, 2016, killing five law enforcement officers and wounding nine others. Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, a 14-year veteran, was among those killed, per Fox 4. Police later ended the standoff by killing the gunman with a remote-controlled robot-delivered explosive.
Katrina Ahrens, herself a former Dallas police officer, filed suits in the year following the ambush. One federal lawsuit sought to block the release of video, audio, and other records related to her husband’s death. A second lawsuit in Johnson County centered on an agreement between the City and the Assist the Officer Foundation to handle mail and donations for the victims’ families.
She alleged that donations and mail intended for her family were routed through the nonprofit without her knowledge or consent, with some checks opened, logged, deposited, delayed, lost, or restricted in ways not disclosed to donors.
City Council members approved the settlement without discussion. The precise terms were not released publicly, as such agreements often include confidentiality provisions.
Katrina Ahrens’ attorney, Casey Griffith, stated that his client is pleased with the resolution and remains focused on honoring her husband’s legacy ahead of the 10th anniversary.
The settlement appears to resolve the City’s involvement in the lawsuits. Ahrens previously reached a sealed settlement with the Assist the Officer Foundation in 2024. The Johnson County case against the Dallas Police Association and attorney Bob Gorsky remains pending.
Both the police association and Gorsky have denied the allegations in court records.
The City had twice appealed trial court rulings allowing claims to proceed, including on issues of governmental immunity. Appellate courts upheld the lower rulings, and the Texas Supreme Court denied review last year.
The approval comes as North Texas prepares to mark the decade since the ambush that claimed the lives of Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, DART Officer Brent Thompson, and Sgt. Michael Smith.
