Five years ago, Dallas police Sgt. George Aranda stood at a podium and called for the resignation of former Chief U. Reneé Hall, drawing heated disagreement from some city officials and officer associations.
He stood at that same podium on Friday as he drew a contrast between that day and this moment — when multiple police associations came together to advocate for retaining Dallas police Chief Eddie García.
“I don’t think in the history of the Dallas Police Department you had an association or associations who have come together to ask for the retention of a chief,” Aranda told reporters at a news conference in West Dallas.
Aranda, president of the Dallas National Latino Law Enforcement Organization, vocalized his support for the city’s top cop while flanked by the presidents of the Dallas Police Association and Asian Peace Officer Association of North Texas. The news conference came amid widespread reports that García is being courted by city officials in Houston and Austin, both of which have interim chiefs.
Aranda said the reports are true, but added the city of Dallas has now offered the chief a proposal, and he’s heard positive feedback about it. Dallas interim city manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has offered “as much as she could” to keep García, according to Aranda.
“The city made its case to the chief at this point,” he said.
García declined to comment. Tolbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Although not in attendance, presidents of the Dallas Police Women’s Association and Dallas’ National Black Police Association also told The Dallas Morning News they support García. The Black Police Association of Greater Dallas — one of the three largest associations — was not at the news conference and its president, Lt. Andre Taylor, told The News they didn’t have a comment. In 2019, the group’s former president voiced vehement disagreement after Aranda called for Hall to step down.
Dallas officials expressed concern earlier this week about other cities trying to lure away García. On Wednesday, Tolbert said other cities should “turn around and go home” if they’re “shopping in Dallas” for a chief.
“Obviously, City Council members and I want to keep him in Dallas doing a good job,” she said in her public statement. “It will take flexibility, creativity with a hefty dose of accountability to accomplish that, but we are working tirelessly to develop solutions. I believe Chief [García] wants to remain here.”
Aranda said Houston Mayor John Whitmire, in particular, has been “very vocal” about recruiting García. Houston officials on Tuesday announced the sudden retirement of their former chief, Troy Finner, after a probe was opened into the department’s suspension of thousands of criminal investigations.
Whitmire’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He was elected to lead Houston last year. He formerly chaired the Texas State Criminal Justice Committee and was a Democratic state senator for decades.
T.C. Broadnax — Dallas’ former city manager who hired García in 2020 — recently became Austin’s top administrative official. Asked whether he’s recruiting García, a spokesperson for the city of Austin issued only a brief statement: “No offer has been made as the position hasn’t been posted and won’t be until early next week.”
García started in Dallas on Feb. 3, 2021, and has received widespread acclaim for his violent crime reduction plan. He has stated his goal is to stay as chief for five years. Since he started, his base pay has increased about $60,000, for a total of $306,440.40 as of April, according to city records.
In recent months, some officials — including former public safety chairman Adam McGough — have pushed for a contract to solidify García’s tenure.
Police chiefs have not been allowed contracts under the city of Dallas charter. The city manager has the authority to hire and fire the police chief and most other city department directors at any time, according to the charter.
Aranda listed García’s accomplishments — including yearly reductions in violent crime, his decision to overturn discipline against DPD’s vice unit and his creation of an officer wellness unit — and said association leaders have been getting texts and calls from officers worried about the chief’s departure.
“We’re very concerned,” Aranda said. “That’s why we’re here. We don’t want to take 10 steps back like we did four years ago.”
Sr. Cpl. Jaime Castro — president of the Dallas Police Association, the largest officer association — echoed Aranda’s sentiment about the “rare occasion” that the police associations gather for a single cause. He said this one is important, and the City Council must “get past the bureaucracy” to keep García.
“We cannot afford to lose Chief García,” Castro said. “We cannot.”
Lt. Paul Thai, who leads the Asian Peace Officer Association of North Texas, said it’d be “a big blow” and “devastating” if the chief left. He and Castro encouraged the City Council and Dallas residents to vocalize support in keeping García.
Officer Jennifer Atherton, president of the Dallas Police Women’s Association, said she couldn’t make the news conference but also expressed strong support for García, noting his “deep commitment” to the rank and file and his understanding of unique challenges faced by women in law enforcement.
She urged the city to consider keeping García in the role as long as possible.
“While we may not always see eye to eye on every matter, Chief García is always open to listening and carefully considering our perspectives,” Atherton said. “In a male dominated culture, his support and willingness to collaborate with us is invaluable.”
Aranda said it’s no secret that García wants a contract, adding officials should’ve done something a year and a half ago when requests for one were first voiced. But, he said, the city appears dedicated now in trying to keep García.
“This is unprecedented,” he said. “Typically we meet when we ask for a vote of no confidence for a chief. But for us to stand up here, all unified, and asking for the retention of the chief so we can keep him — that’s never been done.”
City columnist Sharon Grigsby contributed to this report.
