Memorandum

Date:

August 29, 2016

To:

Honorable Members of the City Council

Subject:

Dallas Police Department hiring goal for FY 2016-17

As you recall, the proposed FY 2016-17 budget for public safety includes the hiring of 549 new
officers 200 officers above current sworn strength. Through ongoing conversations regarding
this proposal, City Manager A.C. Gonzalez and Police Chief David Brown have informed me that
they are exploring the possibility of phasing the hiring of those officers over three years instead
of one year.
I agree with both of them in their assessment that we must grow our force back up in order to
best protect Dallas residents. However, this alternative proposal may be more sustainable, as
some of you have suggested.
I wanted you all to know of the latest in these real-time conversations. I have requested that Mr.
Gonzalez report back to the City Council regarding the financial implications of this amended
request during our next budget briefing on September 7.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best Regards,

Michael S. Rawlings
Mayor

c:

A.C. Gonzalez, City Manager

Chris Bowers, Interim City Attorney
Craig D. Kinton, City Auditor
Rosa A. Rios, City Secretary
Daniel F. Solis, Administrative Judge
Ryan S. Evans, First Assistant City Manager
Eric D. Campbell, Assistant City Manager

Jill A. Jordan, P.E., Assistant City Manager

Mark McDaniel, Assistant City Manager
Joey Zapata, Assistant City Manager
David Brown, Chief of Police
Jeanne Chipperfield, Chief Financial Officer
Sana Syed, Public Information Officer
Elsa Cantu, Assistant to the City Manager Mayor & Council