Fourteen Dallas County police departments sent a letter expressing public safety concerns after Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown abruptly stopped accepting prisoners with outstanding warrants who had not yet seen a magistrate judge.
The policy change alters a practice in place for decades, according to Texas Fraternal Order of Police President Clint McNear. McNear told CBS News that he can’t believe what he’s been hearing from local departments all month.
“I’ve known the sheriff a long time, and I’m really, really shocked by this,” McNear said.
Under the updated enforcement, local police departments must either hold local magistrate hearings for county charges or sign an interlocal agreement to pay the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office $567 per prisoner to house them at the jail.
Sheriff Brown Defends Policy Enforcement
Sheriff Brown rejected claims that her office introduced a brand-new rule, stating that the department is simply enforcing existing legal requirements.
“This is not something that is new. It is just something that is being enforced,” Brown said.
“They shouldn’t necessarily have to come to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department before they can have a bond set for them and then be released from the municipal agencies,” Brown said.
While the Dallas Police Department maintains an interlocal agreement with the county jail to process and house inmates, other municipal agencies do not have identical contracts in place.
Police Associations Warn of Released Suspects
Dallas FOP President Sean Pease explained that municipal officers transporting suspects on Dallas County warrants face immediate rejection if their agency lacks an interlocal agreement with the county.
“They take him to jail, and Dallas County is going to say, ‘You don’t have this interlocal agreement. Therefore, we are not going to take this prisoner,'” Pease said.
McNear warned that the standoff results in officers releasing suspects back onto the streets rather than processing them through the county system.
“If I catch a bad guy and I may take him down there and they either refuse to accept him, or when I drive off, they open the door and let him out. Why am I trying to catch a fish that nobody’s going to clean?” McNear said.
Pease added that the policy could discourage officers from other jurisdictions from assisting in the City of Dallas if they encounter administrative roadblocks.
“It really is concerning because, for one, it might make me think twice about going into the City of Dallas or any other jurisdiction that has an interlocal agreement if I’m trying to play it safe,” Pease said.
Agencies Seeking Resolution
Representatives from fourteen separate police employee associations and unions signed the joint letter delivered to Sheriff Brown this week.
The participating groups include the Irving Police Association, Richardson Police Officers Association, Garland Police Association, Mesquite Police Association, DeSoto Police Officers Association, Farmers Branch Police Officers Association, DART Police Union, Addison Police Association, Carrollton Police Officers Association, Grand Prairie Police Association, Sachse Police Association, Dallas Police Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and the Texas Municipal Police Association.
Both FOP presidents stated they hope to secure an in-person meeting with Sheriff Brown to negotiate a resolution to the intake dispute.
Finding Answers on Police Agreements
Which police departments signed the letter to Sheriff Brown?
Fourteen law enforcement labor groups signed the letter, including the Dallas Police Association, Irving Police Association, Richardson Police Officers Association, Garland Police Association, and the Texas Municipal Police Association.
What is the cost per prisoner under the county agreement?
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office charges municipal agencies $567 per prisoner to house individuals at the Dallas County Jail if they do not process local magistrate hearings independently.
Where does the magistrate judge work?
A magistrate judge works directly inside the Dallas County Jail to handle initial hearings for incoming detainees.
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