Crime watch leaders, business owners frustrated over PD’s delay in notifying them of hate crime
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| SCENE OF THE CRIME | Alex Bowers, left and Kyle Wear revisit the spot on Throckmorton Street where they were attacked and robbed Friday night, May 14, by four men wielding a baseball bat. Wear faces surgery to repair his jaw, which was broken in two places when the assailants hit him with the bat. (John Wright/Dallas Voice) |
Crime watch leaders and business owners expressed frustration this week that it took Dallas police almost three full days to notify them about a brutal hate crime that occurred just a few blocks from the Cedar Springs strip.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the attack, LGBT activists said they were recruiting people to sign up for the police department’s Volunteers in Patrol program, in hopes of "taking back" notoriously dangerous side streets in the gay entertainment district.
As of Wednesday, May 19, police hadn’t made any arrests in the aggravated robbery that occurred at about midnight last Friday on Throckmorton Street near Congress Avenue, approximately two blocks southwest of the Crossroads.
The two victims — Kyle Wear and Alex Bowers, both 28 — were walking from a house party toward the bars on Cedar Springs when they were jumped by four Latino males in white tank tops wielding baseball bats.
According to a police report, one of the assailants struck Wear in the face with a bat and yelled, "Give me all of your fucking money you fucking fag."
Wear was briefly knocked unconscious and suffered a broken jaw, and the suspects fled on foot with the victims’ wallets and cell phones.
"I thought they were going to kill us," said Bowers, who was unharmed.
Wear said he doesn’t remember much about the incident, but Bowers is convinced the pair was targeted because of their sexual orientation.
"I think they wanted something, but I also think they seemed to be enjoying it," he said.
Hate crime classification
Despite the suspects’ use of a gay slur, Dallas police initially failed to classify the incident as a hate crime, prompting outrage from some in the LGBT community.
According to FBI guidelines, offenses are to be classified as hate crimes if they were motivated "in whole or in part" by sexual-orientation bias. Among the primary indicators that a crime was motivated by bias are "oral comments" made by suspects, the FBI guidelines state.
By late Monday morning, May 17, after consulting with LGBT Liaison Officer Laura Martin, police officials reclassified the offense as an anti-gay hate crime.
"I think some patrol officers are probably under the impression that they can’t really designate things as hate crimes," Martin said later. "That doesn’t mean that we can’t go through and change things. It’s just a matter of who actually does change it, so it’s being done."
Martin said classifying the incident as a hate crime would give the investigation higher priority.
"If someone’s targeted because of who they are and they’re in a protected class, there is more attention that needs to be paid," Martin said. "We don’t want people coming down in the Cedar Springs area and thinking they can just beat up and rob members of the GLBT community because it just seems like a fun thing to do. We don’t want people thinking that’s OK to do, so I can assure you that it will be investigated and given plenty of attention."
While DPD will report the incident to the FBI as a hate crime, it’s unlikely it will be prosecuted as a hate crime if the suspects are captured.
That’s because Texas’ hate crimes statute provides no enhanced penalty if the offense is already a first-degree felony, such as aggravated robbery.
Randall Terrell, political director at Equality Texas, said it’s one reason why the gay-rights group has been calling for a review of the statute, which has been rarely used by prosecutors in the 10 years since it passed.
Communication breakdown
Nancy Weinberger, a longtime local crime watch leader, said she didn’t learn of the incident until she received a message from a reporter at WFAA-TV on Saturday evening.
Weinberger also noted that neither the Dallas Tavern Guild nor the Cedar Springs Merchants Association was notified by police.
DPD didn’t post the crime on its Nixle public e-mail notification system until 3:16 p.m. Monday.
"There is absolutely no excuse in the whole world for me not to know that something like that happened," Weinberger said Wednesday during a monthly crime watch meeting at the Oak Lawn library.
"It’s not DPD’s fault that this happened to these guys. The fault lies in communication."
Howard Okon, owner of the Brick, said if bar owners had learned about the crime sooner they could have alerted customers and security —possibly leading to the apprehension of the suspects.
"You all are missing your greatest asset, which is us," Okon told police officials who attended Wednesday’s meeting. "We want to know a lot quicker."
DPD Lt. Daniel Gallegos acknowledged that there had been a communication breakdown within the department.
Gallegos said it would be impossible for DPD to notify the community immediately about offenses, because officers must first complete initial investigations. He also said DPD can’t release some details because it could jeopardize investigations.
But Gallegos said the department should have notified Weinberger and others by Saturday or Sunday at the latest.
"That should not happen again," Gallegos said.
Gallegos also said the department immediately upped patrols in the area, and detectives canvassed the neighborhood on Tuesday.
He said the additional patrols would likely continue, especially on weekends.
"I don’t want the community to feel that this happened and we did nothing about it," Gallegos said. "We will leave no rock unturned."
‘Somebody’s going to end up dead’
The incident was the first serious anti-gay hate crime in Oak Lawn since the July 2008 beating of Jimmy Lee Dean.
But the area surrounding the gay entertainment district remains dangerous for violent crime, according to Dallas police statistics.
DPD’s Cedar Springs Wycliff Target Area Action Grid — a 1-square-mile quadrant that encompasses the strip —recorded the fourth-most violent offenses of 26 crime hotspots citywide in 2009.
Michael Robinson, who launched a hate crimes advocacy group after witnessing Dean’s attack two years ago, said it’s time for the community to address the problem.
"We’ve got to take back our damn streets," Robinson said. "Somebody’s going to end up dead, and then everybody will want to jump up and down."
Robinson said he was hoping to recruit at least 10 people to go through training for DPD’s Volunteers in Patrol program.
"We need eyes on the street," he said. "We need bodies in this community to pro
tect us."
As for the victims, Wear said he blames himself for not being more aware of his surroundings. He said he was looking down, sending a text message on his cell phone when he was suddenly struck with the bat.
Bowers, meanwhile, said he plans to get some pepper spray and possibly take a self-defense course.
As they looked at bloodstains on the sidewalk during a visit to the scene on Tuesday, the pair said they didn’t plan to walk to the strip from their friend’s house on Throckmorton again.
Asked what the community’s response should be to the incident, Bowers said, "I don’t think it’s something that should just be forgotten about."
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 21, 2010.
“He said he was looking down, sending a text message on his cell phone when he was suddenly struck with the bat”.—
This is part of the problem right here, and the sooner we all wake up and become more aware of our surroundings, the better of we will be. To Kyle Ware—If you know you are walking down a dark street in a dangerous neighborhood, than why in the world would you be more concerned about “texting” than watching what might be around you? I hope you wouldn’t do this while driving a car either. The whole world is so damned obsessed with text messaing these days, that NOW it is not only controlling our lives, but our common sense as well, when it comes to our safety and securtiy. Is it going to kill you to put the damn phone away for 5 minutes, or will someone else end up doing that to you???
Real nice Veronica. I guess he had it coming. I do agree that we need to be more aware of our surroundings but belittling the victims is just plain low.
Hi Latisha! I’m glad you agreed with me but please don’t think I was belitting him. Hopefully, it will give Kyle a real wake up call, just to be more aware of his surroundings in the future.
I agree with Latisha. If he had been looking for his keys or some other distraction that would make the situation more shocking Veronica? Four guys and a base ball bat… Who cares if he was texting? If he had “been more aware” and seen them before the bat hit him would that make the crime more shocking? I am all for being aware, but that isn’t always going to save you either. I have been a victim, I know. There are many places in the “gayborhood” that have blind corners to places you can not see until you get there. I myself live a block from where this happened and (until now) felt safe in that it is open and you would be able to see someone coming at that spot. Being a victim is rarely the victim’s fault, that is why they are called victims and not perpetrator.
You know what nothing is going to happen because the mayor of Dallas is probably to concervative. I just saw were he is a member of a Mulit Mega church downtown Dallas which is known for being against LGBT. If something does get done, Thank God. But until then it is going to be the same thing all over again, religious people in the courts and police and in all of the cities offies and not doing a thing about what really is going on!
Has anyone tried to put together a map of where the last 20 or so robberies or beatings have occurred? I know Google Maps has a “My Maps” feature where people can pin things to a public map (I’ll be happy to give the exact location where I was mugged in January 2009). That would help immensely in identifying a pattern, or at the very least a “red zone” to focus on.
Once this zone is identified we can approach the surrounding property owners to get their cooperation either by implementing lighting improvements or even surveillance equipment. This should be a joint project of the Dallas Voice, Tavern Guild and Merchants Association but I’ll be happy to provide assistance. My email is basqueboyntx@gmail.com.
Well said Ross. My heart goes out to these guys as I am sure they will be emotionally affected by this incident forever. The Dallas LGBT community is very powerful, and if we unite with the same goals, these incidents will be a lot less likely to happen if at all.
Get some class and shut your face, Veronica. You’re blaming the victim. There is nothing wrong with sending a text message while walking down a sidewalk. If you’d read more closely before shooting off your mouth, you’d have noticed that the other victim was not sending a text message, and was still attacked. Oops, there goes your argument.
That’s it, I’m done with such hateful comments, especially from such a rude person as yourself David. You are one of the typical main reasons why the gay community is in such an uproar over this and so many other issues. I was only making a suggestion on how distracting I find text messaging on a consistent basis, and how we should use better judgement, that’s all. But it’s people like you who only know how to be rude and crude, by lashing out at others who are merely trying to help. Yet again, you and your kind our just another reason why my girlfriend and I stopped hitting the Cedar Springs strip months ago, and have found other things to do on our leisure time. Have fun and fight your own battles, if you’re gonna throw someone’s advise out the window David. I’m done!
I’m sure police will have their usual response to reports of nighttime violent crime in the Oaklawn area — they will station police during the day in the Walgreen’s parking lot to catch people who don’t come to a full stop at the stop sign and hand out a series of $200+ tickets. That’s their version of increased police presence. (An no, this is not sour grapes, they haven’t stopped me there.).
Veronica’s first comment may have been a bit harsh on the victim, but I do see her point, regarding text messaging. Actually I see both sides of this argument based on these comments and I too have been guilty at times, of texting someone, when I should have been watching my surroundings, either walking on the street in a dark neighborhood near the strip, or (heaven forbid) while driving one time. I’l never do that again. Again, I can see both sides of this discussion because I’ve been there, and was almost once attacked myself, about 2 years ago behind the Roundup Saloon in Oak lawn, when a friend of mine and myself, were almost jumped by 10 hispanic youths late on a Saturday night. They were all obviously straight, drunk and wanted a fight. Thank God there were police at the end of the parking lot that borders Reagan street and Thank God we were both in shape to run fast enough, faster than these youths, to make it to the police. Scary as it sounds, I hope this never happens to anyone on this blog and at the same time, maybe we should try to be more kind to each other in our comments (David) even if we don’t agree with each other. God Bless!
The area is barely safe during the day and at night it is too risky. I learned this back in the 90’s when I lived in Oak Lawn. The two innocent men did not deserve this to happen to them but it does serve as a reminder to all of us everywhere that we need to be aware of our surroundings. Safe as we may feel, there will always be people out there willing and able to attack us. And finally, this is about Kyle Wear and ALex Bowers and not about Veronica. Why don’t we use all that energy to patrol Oak Lawn to keep our sisters and brothers safe?
Veronica’s comment is, well, kinda stupid.
That’s like saying the woman who dressed sexy in a short skirt “was asking for it” or “wanted it”.
Wake up.
Sadly, Veronica is right. While her words may be a bit harsh, I do not believe for an instant that she intended to blame the victim. However, sometimes it takes a bit of callousness to wake us from our complacency. My heart goes out to the victims; I would not wish their experiences on anyone. And while I now live in the peace and tranquility (and safety) of a suburban neighborhood, I am nonetheless outraged like many others. For five years, I lived two blocks away from where the victims were attacked. That was 20 years ago. The area wasn’t safe then either. But the one recurring consistency is that the DPD simply does not care. If the crime is not perpetrated against a fellow officer or a donut shop, then as far as they are concerned it’s not worth solving. So until and unless we take matters into our own hands, these types of attacks will continue unabated. Buy a gun, get a permit and carry your firearm like you would your wallet or cell phone.
Thanks for your kind and informative words James and thank you also for being a gentleman as well, unlike others on this topic. And yes, my intenton was NEVER to blame the victims and my heart does indeed got out to Kyle and to Alex. I guess it is sometimes wise just to keep one’s mouth shut and keep opinions to myself, rather than getting “thrown under the bus”, because others take some helpful advice the wrong way. Enough said!
Veronica, when you are opinionated (like me), you’re going to piss people off. It’s a fact of life. REAL people respect others’ opinions and are emotionally mature enough to counter with facts/opinions of their own. Conversely, the immature and uneducated will usually respond with a personal attack if they disagree, as if attacking an individual will somehow change that person’s opinion. (It never does, by the way.) Speaking of which, I have another opinion. Since you use the name “Veronica”, it stands to reason that you are probably female. If instead you were (or appeared to be) a guy, I think some of these critical individuals may have actually agreed with you. (Here’s what will happen next: those who criticized you will now personally attack ME, simply because they dislike my opinion. You watch!)
I’m not trying to defend Veronica but I believe women have a tendency to be more aware of their surroundings than men. We are taught from an early to age to protect our bodies and to not trust strangers. Probably why the act of not paying attention and texting while walking through a dark area seems quite foreign to the mentality of a woman b/c we’re always on guard. I’ve noticed that about my male friends. They will jog in katy trail after dark alone and I just think that is insane. It seems very natural to them to not have to worry about things like that.
Sad to rear it happened again.
I am certainly not easily intimidated myself, and some guy with a baseball bat may get himself in serious harm if he wants to rob me – but I do ask myself when I consider to visit any of the establishments on the strip at night time, if it is worth the hassle and the risk of having my car broken into. There is so little parking anyway, and even the paid parking does not guarantee there is someone there to actually watch it (it’s more pay for the convenience of a spot). It kind of spoils the fun to pay for a couple hundred in damages due to a car burglary (for the little stuff they actually take).
Take a cab instead across town (twice)? Organize friend(s) to go together car-sharing and/or having a designated driver? Seems a bit much just to go out on the strip …
In the end, I rarely go. I make an effort to support the shops I can visit during the daytime (when parking is also easier), but it seems hardly worth-while weighing the ups and down for the clubs, bars, or even the restaurants.
How about installing some security cameras and lights on these dangerous streets?
Security cameras migh be a deterance at least I wish they’d start putting them up all over uptown.
I frequented (and lived in) that neighborhood fifteen years ago. I didn’t carry a cell phone nor did I have any idea how to text or what that was about. I did, frequently, pick up a brick and throw my shoulders back while walking down the middle of the street, so as to appear even more crazy than the potential predator — homophobic most certainly, but mostly just in need of a few bucks. This faggot was never attacked, but did have roommates who were. Apparently the back streets of Oak Lawn/Cedar Springs are still ignored and dangerous. When I visit (15 years later) I’ll still walk up the middle of the street — swingin’ a brick, my keys, and talkin’ like a crazy redneck faggot. This is called self-protection. Maybe Laura Bush and I can start our own parade down the middle of Throckmorton. Bet she might be a key ally.
Veronica — By no means should it be a requirement to be nervous and on-guard while walking through your own turf. It’s a good idea, but this is where states (such as Texas) are not pro-active toward hate-crime legislation. “Ah, well, ya know, he should have been paying attention.” NO! Time to call a spade a spade, and to INSIST that these hate-crimes are identified as such, and to DEMAND that these laws are EFFECTUATED.
Menlo and len: great idea! Next question: who is going to pay for this expensive proposition, and how? The City of Dallas is facing a HUGE (perhaps even a record) budget deficit, and local business owners typically don’t make investments on which there is no quantifiable return or payback. With the city in dire financial straits, I doubt that an expenditure like the one you propose to keep a few gay men from getting assaulted will be high on the city leaders’ priority lists. (Hell, they wouldn’t even fix the crosswalk on Cedar Springs last year, remember?) Bottom line: if you’re looking to the city for help, it’s not going to happen. If you’re expecting the police to protect you, it’s not going to happen. And if you’re looking for local business owners to chip in, good luck.
Watch out for all the paranoid hustlers strung out on crystal in this area. They will do anything for their next bump!
My heart goes out to yall! I hope the punks who did this get caught and suffer! Stay strong Alex and Kyle and I know you two can get through this! Love yall and yall are in my prayers!
This is nothing new comming from the DPD. I just moved into my rental house in april and just 4 days later i got home at 3:00 A.M. from my job to find that my house had been robbed of all appliances and two laptops with all of my work information and passwords and all that other important stuff. It took DPD about 3 hours to send someone to my house anf then they were here and left right away. then i had to wait till 8 A.M. to get my house fingerprinted and yet no arrests have been made. Tha lack of immidieate response is wahat is hurting our community. We need to stick together and become a noticable group and bring justice to its knees to work with us and not against us, and that includes from the city mayor and judges to open there eyes and listen too US and not the votes that seat them because once they are seated they forget who put them there.
What about a private security patrol on weekends, it seems like the business owners would pay for something that low end, to avoid the bad press which keeps patrons away and hits their bottom line.
I’ve lived in some cheap ass apartments that do 24 hr security patrols, it can’t be that expensive.
I’m have no clue how well those business do, but the clubs can’t be doing to bad.
This event and so many others like it is the result of so much more than just texting or an unsafe street or a bad neighborhood. It’s about so much more than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s about an entire class of people that, in 2010, live in a society that continually reinforces the notion that we’re not good enough to be equal citizens. Not good enough to be protected in our jobs, not even good enough to get married. It’s the inevitable outcome when kids grow up learning that it’s ok to call someone a fag and responsible adults look the other way. Or when a church or political party can raise enough money to brainwash your neighbors into stepping into a voting booth to take away your most fundamental rights without even realizing what they’re doing. So instead of pointing fingers at each other, let’s realize that all we have is each other. They can put all the cops in the world in every gay neighborhood in America, but until our society and its institutions stop giving them a reason to hate us, I’m still not as good as my straight sister, and you’re still not as good as you’re straight neighbor. And that’s what we ought to be fighting for.
Unbelievable. Both the act of violence itself and the distracting blame-game that’s happened on this board.
NO ONE deserves to be beaten.
ANYONE could have been the victim, even the most attentive person.
EVERYONE is diminished this hate crime.
ALL OF US should be on the side of the victim because tomorrow it could be us.
Well said Brian. I cannot understand how anyone could blame the victims for what happened to them. The were not looking for trouble, they were not causing trouble, they were not inciting violence. Four individuals decide on their own to attack, rob and cause injuires to two people with no other reasons than hate and greed. Plain and simple. Two human beings were attacked and injured. We are fighting wars overseas, and yet we are also fighting them in our own community… Stop pointing fingers and start developing solutions. A decision by the government declaring our equality would be a good beginning. I remember reading a document once during a visit to Washington D.C….”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
It is time for things to change!
I know everyone here has strong opinions on this.
I think those who are blaming the victims should be ashamed of themselves. Nobody deserves to be attacked. I live right around the corner from where this was and often pass the location when driving in between my loft and Cedar Springs.
These guys were beaten by guys prepared to rob and hurt someone. To anyone saying texting had something to do with this, they would have been attacked regardless. The attackers were out to rob and beat someone from this neighborhood. They were prepared to attack someone who was able to defend themselves as they had baseball bats.
We need to support these guys and support them.
What is this the VERONICA SHOW? Leave poor veronica alone! She has a mind of her own and is going to say what’ the hell is on it… you go girl!! As for what I think Cameras and alitte Security would help alot.You just have to watch your back,because no its not the safest place in Dallas,Remember Swamp Trash????Oh those were the days. Have a safe Trip Girls…….
Some more illegal aliens hurting people and taking their money. Go home Mexicans. We don’t want or need you in the US.
Tom, you go away. We don’t need you. You are a problem and not a solution.
Leave him be, Mot. He’s no different than the Baptists blaming homosexuals for every bad thing that happens. Or those who point the finger at Obama every time something happens that they don’t like. These people don’t offer up any solutions, but they are quick to point the finger. The only thing you can do with people who think on that level is to rise above them and move on.
I, have been going to cedar springs since 1987 after i, finished junior college. I, have never had a problem going there. I, still go to the Roundup Saloon on saturday nights and have a great time. Even at 200am when i leave with my friends, i, don’t see anything bad going on. I, have never lived in oaklawn or care too. But as for these to guys, it might have been someone gang.
ufff for something like to this to happen in Oaklawn, not surprising. Oaklawn is that neighborhood sandwiched between third world style neighborhoods and Highland Park. As someone who’s lived in third world countries, I can attest! You would think the drug dealers/pimps that always walk the corner by the Bank of America would have found a new spot after they erected the Illum apartments. Yeah right!
Veronica was making a statement of fact. The point is, if the guys were cognizant of the dangers and were alert to their surroundings, it MAY not have happened. That means that the thugs would have preyed on someone else that night. She wasn’t putting the blame on anyone…just stating an observation that Latisha brought home. Being transgendered, I have to constantly remind myself to be aware at all times. I am a target as both a woman and a transgendered person.
Back when I walked this earth pretending to be a male, I didn’t worry about being targeted…I spent about 24 hours a week in the gym and could take care of myself. Now I am weaker and have health issues. I can’t defend myself like I used to.
Moral of the story y’all…be careful out there. Don’t become a victim.
I can’t believe this crap is still happening to us in our own neighborhood. Alex and Kyle, my heart died a little when I read about what happened to you. It’s cowardly, horrible, and outright evil that someone would do that. I unfortunately have to agree with some of the other posts that maybe the police aren’t always as effective as we’d hope. Sometimes we’re just going to have to rely a little more on ourselves. We’re Texan Homosexuals; maybe we should tote guns inside of our adorable Gucci man purses.
Not that hard to do: License is $140.
https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/faq.htm
And the training classes are available for $139. Plus the facility is on Davis in Grand Prairie, just down the street from a cute little antique store and coffee shop.
https://chltraining.com/
Love ya guys, good luck and best wishes…
I totally agree we all should be more aware of our surroundings both on foot and while driving. However, the real issue here is that there were four men with baseball bats waiting and luarking to prey on innocent dallas citizens. when you can’t even walk safely down the street in your own neighborhood you have a problem that the city must address, no matter what neighborhood. We shouldn’t have to lock our doors, close our blinds and sit in our homes in fear of stepping outside. I live in Texarkana, but visit Dallas often. I have friend inside and out of the Oaklawn area. They all deserve the city of Dallas to maintain reasonalble safety in their streets. The Dallas police are quoted saying that the area surrounding the gay entertainment district remains dangerous for violent crime. Come one people, that’s ignorance at it’s best. I don’t see how reading that sentence doesn’t outrage the community. Will someone have to loose their life for it become and unacceptable liability. Everyone will have to work together to bring back the streets and neighborhoods to the people that live and visit there.
Sorry about the spelling, but somehow it submitted while I was spell-checking. You get my point though. Thanks for reading.
I totally agree Michael R. Part of the problem is that most of the people who frequent the bars and shops on Cedar Springs don’t actually live in the area. I’m sure there was someone who read about this incident in the paper/online and said “Boy I’m glad I wasn’t in the gayborhood that weekend”, and then they move on. Another hurdle is that the demographics of the neighborhood is changing. There are more straight yuppies buying condos in this area than LGBT peeps so they probably don’t feel that personal connection to the neighborhood like we do. Plus, they probably blame the crime on those “damn gay bars”.
I do live in the Oaklawn and we definitely need to get proactive instead of reactive. We are in the process of getting volunteers to patrol the streets on the weekends. Problem is that you have to actually live in the area that you want to patrol. I’ve had several people who want to help but don’t actually live in Oaklawn. And trying to appeal to the actual residents is gonna be a challenge.
Hi Latisha! I’ve been reading all of these posts since the article hit last Friday, but haven’t posted anything until now.
If there was a way that we non-Oak Lawn residents could help (I live in North Dallas), then count me in. I think in a situation like this, we’re the Oak Lawn/Cedar Springs area crime rate is just getting worse, then I believe that ANYONE who is willing to help, should be allowed to help, regardless of where they reside in the City of Dallas. Again, count me in, and if you or anyone else on this topic has any info to share with everyone who would like to get involved, then by all means, please post it on here. Thanks again and I hope that I, along with many others, can help and become involved in helping keep the streets safe in Oak Lawn, in some way.
Well I don’t think my suggestion for video surveillance is so unrealistic. Cameras are not that expensive these days and can be monitored from any location with internet access which would be perfect for volunteers not in the area. If people are serious about doing something about the problem, then the bar/business owners and community activists should be able to work something out in conjunction with the city.
Letisha, DJ BOb and Menlo I think those are all great Ideas and very realistic goals. Thats exactly what I meant by working together. Count me in also to help in anyway I can. I know I am not a resident of your beautiful city, but each time I visit, especially the Oaklawn area I feel as though I’ve come home. I would be willing to sponsor one camera to kick off things. Some task force or alliance just has to take ownership and stear the reins.
@DJ Bob, a local activist talked to Laura Martin (our LGBT liason with DPD) about the response from non-Oaklawn residents wanting to help. They have now changed the rules for their volunteer patrol policy. If ANYONE is interested in receiving training through DPD to patrol Oaklawn on the weekends, please send me an email @ brufanegra@hotmail.com. There are several requirements to be part of the patrol but as long as you’re not part of the Mexican cartel, you should have no problems. Here’s the link for more info: https://www.dallaspolice.net/index.cfm?page_ID=1183
Excellent Latisha and Thank You so much for posting this info here on this article. I will forward this info (your e-mail address and the DPD website link for training) to some of my friends as well, who have also showed interest in doing volunteer patrol work in Oak Lawn on the weekends.
I am so glad that we no longer have to be Oak Lawn neighborhood residents, to volunteer in that area, since most of my friends, including myself, live in other parts of the city. But we do like to think of Oak Lawn as our 2nd home on the weekends, and this works out perfectly. Thanks again Latisha!
All,
The Dallas Stonewall Young Democrats are organizing a campaign for more streetlights and safer streets called “Light Up Oak Lawn.” The first meeting kicks off this Tuesday, August 10th, at 8pm at JR’s (upstairs lounge). It’s open to anybody.
Feel free to add yourself to the Facebook invite here:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149307385086361
Thanks,
Brian