Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia terminated an officer last week for allegedly using unnecessary force against a suspect.
A statement relayed to The Dallas Express by Kristin Lowman, public information officer for the Dallas Police Department (DPD), said that Officer Barron Cooper “was terminated for violating the Department’s Emergency Operations Policy, using unnecessary and/or inappropriate force against a citizen, using profane language while interacting with a prisoner, failing to complete required reports prior to end of tour of duty and being involved in an on-duty accident and failed to notify a supervisor.”
Cooper reportedly received his termination during a disciplinary hearing with Chief Garcia on February 28, per The Dallas Morning News (DMN). He had served the DPD since 2019 and was assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.
The DMN reported that all of Cooper’s alleged violations were “tied to the same incident.” Police reportedly said Cooper crashed into a suspect during an unauthorized chase, cursed at the suspect, and did not disclose this crash to his supervisor.
During his hearing, Cooper was represented by Mike Mata, president of the Dallas Police Association. Mata noted the distinction between “unnecessary” and “excessive” force, per the DMN. He also explained that Chief Garcia did not view Cooper’s actions as excessive force but did believe he “went outside of our normal arrest policy and use-of-force procedures.”
Mata also represented another DPD officer, Aaron Cagle, who was suspended by Chief Garcia for 20 days during a disciplinary hearing that occurred the same day as Cooper’s.
Last year, Cagle was detained following a fight that occurred while he was off duty outside a bar in northwest Dallas. He reportedly tried to push a police officer who was trying to disband the fight several times.
Cagle was suspended as a consequence of “his arrest for Interference with Public Duties and Public Intoxication,” according to the statement The Dallas Express received from Lowman.
“The discipline speaks for itself,” said Chief Garcia in a text, per the DMN.