Here's a thought - since the DART police seem to having multiple issues. Let's disband them. Since they're effectively unable to police the DART system, let's use the money that they're spending on maintaining a seperate police force to fund some officers in each DART member city and/or deputies in the sherriff's office. This would allow all the money that get's spent on the police chief's salary, his two captains, four leutienants, and various redundant support staff to go to actually hiring officers. This would go a ways toward helping with their shortage of officers. This could be done with little or no increase in cost.

Besides, who can remember to call a special number when you need help from the DART police? Heck, isn't that why we got 911 service? No more special numnbers - you just call and they send help. In an emergency situation, what are the odds that someone is going to think, "Oh, wait...I'm on DART property. I need to call 214-928-6300 and not 911." If you want to see how well this works, you can check out my original blog post, which is what started this whole thing.

I worked for the DART PD for 3 years.

In that time there, I have seen and heard alot of things.

I was in the I.A. office one particular day and overheard Sgt. Mullins, the one and only person over I.A. tell another officer to "make Sgt. Rawlinson look good in your statement because he's had a tough time."

TOUGH TIME!!

This Sergeant was under investigation for a complaint from a civilian claiming he had used excessive force on her.

Guess what? NOTHING happened.

DART administration has been known and still does take any command staff that is or might be under investigation and put them on another shift or even deep nights until the investigation dies down. This happens all the time.

But let an officer get in trouble--FIRED!

I talked to one of my ex partners at DART and they said that officers are leaving faster than they can replace them due to micro-management.

We would spend countless hours working undercover operations at DART just going around harrassing the homeless.

I've seen officers, even sergeants urinate on a homeless persons belongings and them made them leave and or arrested them for no reason.

It was called a POP arrest. (Pissed Off Police arrest)

When a complaint is filed with a police department in Texas, it has to be done in person and in writing.

I arrested a combative juvenile at the 8th and Corinth station one day for being disorderly.

He decided that since he was 6'5" and 300+, he wanted to fight me. I'm 5'8", around 185. Do the math folks, he was Andre the giant next to me. After a brief struggle and some luck on my part, I was able to place him under arrest.

Now, 6 months after this happened, the boy's mother called a friend (who works for Royce West office as a clerk) and has her type and send an "E-Mail" to the DART PD using a Royse West's letterhead.

If I'm not mistaken, department procedures states that this had to be done in person and by the person who was making the claim. In other words, the boy or his caretaker. Not a friend!

The complaint asked why did the officer use excessive force? I didn't use excessive force and was also cleared on that by the use of force training sergeant.

About a month after this started, the question arose about me using profanity towards the suspect.

This was hearsay by his friends who were at the scene. Of course they're gonna stick up for their buddy, come on!

Later I wrote a letter to IA stating that I made the comment of "now are you gonna kick my a**" after I got the "giant" on the ground and in cuffs.

Even Sgt. Ruiz, who taught use of force said that he has and will use all force necessary to gain compliance of the suspect. He stated that if it takes using profanity to get the suspect's attention then so be it. Whatever it takes to effect an arrest.

Well, here I am 2 years later doing my best to get back on at any Police Department. It's kinda hard when people see "Discharged" on your application. It's even harder when you have a Lieutenant and a Sergeant telling potential employers the whole history (from their perspective). If I'm not mistaken, that's also against the law isn't it?

Well, it's not against DART's law.

[Ed Note: We continue to monitor DART. Their problems run quite a bit deeper than departmental politics.]