DART Police - Harassing the Homeless

Yesterday on my way home I was waiting for the train, when an obviously homeless man stepped off the train. He began making a path toward the elevator through the crowd of passengers.

Two DART officers who had been chatting with a rather attractive female abruptly broke off their conversation, and accosted the man, who hadn't even so much as spoken to anyone. First they asked him to show his ticket, which he did. Then they asked for his identification which they prompty called in to see if he had any outstanding warrants.

I didn't catch the end of this because my train arrived and I had to board.

My major complaint about this is that he had a ticket and wasn't causing trouble for anyone. If you have a ticket and you're not causing problems, you should be able to ride the system like everyone else.

It's not up to me or the police to approve of what you wear or how you wear it. I also found it odd that they were studiously ignoring the group of young black males wearing gang colors and Blood insignia at the other end of the platform.

These officers are off harassing the homeless but I'm not able to get help because a gang of thugs is trying to rape some young girls?

They're out patrolling the HOV lane writing tickets for people who want to use the road that their tax dollars built, but I call and am told that they're too busy to send anyone for 45 mintues?

This morning there is a man who climbed up on to the elevated handicap platfom in order to urinate. I don't know about you but seeing an elderly gentleman waving his privates around isn't exactly what I look forward to first thing in the morning. Guess what? Not an officer in sight anywhere!

Not only do they not have enough officers, they apparently aren't engaged in what they ought to be doing.

DART vs. Homeless

I refuse to criticize DART police for giving homeless people and other "undesirables" a hard time. I'm asking for more of it. Much more vigilance is needed on the trains and at the stations. I'm embarassed to think what visitors from other cities think about Dallas when they step on to one of our trains.

DART Police and Accountability (Links)

It does appear on the surface that very little attention is paid to DART's police department. DART officers have been involved in several high-profile, questionable events.  Yet there seems to be very little in the area of a call for accountability.

Here are some examples:

DART Police Jail a Man Almost 2 Weeks for Jaywalking

Another Take on the Jaywalking Incident 

Another Run-In With Jaywalking Suspect

DART Police Officers Embroiled in Expensive Sex Scandal Investigation

DART Executives Threaten Officers For Talking about Understaffing/Crime

In 2002, DART Police Officer Acie Gilkey was convicted and sentenced to 8 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault on two teenage girls.  Gilkey had issued the pair citations for failing to pay train fare.  Gilkey told the girls he would toss the ticket in exchange for sexual favors.

DART Police are currently under investigation by the FBI for the incident(s) involving the jaywalker.