Black, Latino Officers Remain United

By Gordon Jackson, The Dallas Weekly

(Posted 9/30/03) DALLAS, TX (NNPA) — The fallout after the Aug. 26 firing of Dallas’ first black chief of police, Terrell Bolton, continues, spawning off and touching several other sensitive side issues along the way. At least two more issues have been raised to the surface, resulting however in the black and Hispanic community passing a critical test toward solidarity, as opposed to turning against each other.

Bolton’s firing by Dallas City Manager Ted Benavides, a Hispanic, had sparked protests in which at least one individual carried a picket sign referring to Benavides as a “wet-back,” which Hispanics consider an offensive racial slur. Hispanics first vented their displeasure but came together with black leaders to avoid a potential split, which included the Dallas police department.

“There is no confusion between black and brown officers within the department in the City of Dallas,” said Gil Cerda, president of the Dallas Chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association. “We have worked together for many years.”

Not only have the black and Latino police associations banded together toward being involved in the process for selecting the next chief, they assured that no division or rift exists between them.

“Both groups in the local chapters, as well as both national groups, join together in vehemently rejecting efforts made by any persons or entities designed to create racial tension among the ranks of the Dallas Police Department,” said Cerda.

Members of Cerda’s group, along with Thomas Glover, president of the predominantly Black Texas Peace Officers Association, and their national presidents, Jose Miramontes and Preston Gilstrap, stood united during a Sept. 5 press conference, looking at one goal — to aid the city in selecting a suitable new police chief. They directed their words, in no uncertain terms, toward Mayor Laura Miller, whom they feel has avoided them since taking office.

“Since she became mayor, I’ve been called once, and that’s after she informed me she talked with (Dallas Police Association President) Glen White and got the information from him on hoping we would endorse her,” said Cerda.

Both local presidents demanded for full-scale involvement in picking the next chief, meaning strong input from their groups and citizens. Gilstrap, president of the National Black Police Association, strongly advocates the concept of community forums to receive input from citizens, represented by “stakeholders.”

“In a true community-based government and policing environment, the process of selecting the new Chief of Police would not commence without a representative number of community-based stakeholder[s] being intricately involved in that process,” said Gilstrap. “This community-based policing notion frightens traditional law enforcement agencies and governmental leaders who have forgotten their “citizen” roots. There must be a newfound respect and confidence in the collective intelligence of the total community as to how it should participate in the prevention and reduction of crime.”

Both the national black and Latino police associations recommend the establishment of an ad hoc citizens’ committee composed of the mayor, citizens appointed by each of the 14 city council members and a representative from the Dallas Police Association, Dallas Police Patrolmen’s Union, the Latino Peace Officers Association and the Texas Peace Officers Association. The groups stress a willingness to hire women and people of color in the department and through the upper ranks as a critically important criteria for the next chief. Other strong points should be their ability to foster strong leadership that delivers high service in all neighborhoods, regardless of ethnic or economic makeup.

“I know some people want to hear the black officers say they want a black chief and theHispanics to say they want a Hispanic chief, but we want the best qualified candidate who will pull the city back together,” said Glover. The next police chief will have to deal with the same deteriorating department infrastructure that plagued Bolton because of budget cuts over the last four years.

“The City of Dallas had laid off over 1,300 employees over the past four years, a high percentage of them from the police department,” said Glover. “Yet, we’re still expected to have the same impact in the community. We can’t.

“You can double the number of police officers in this city to 6,000; we still don’t have per capita what New York (City) has,” said Cerda. “So how do you expect for crime to go down if we don’t have the officers to actually be out on the streets fighting crime. You can’t cut 600-800 people and still expect to get the same productivity.” Gilstrap wants to ensure the new chief doesn’t become victim to possible double-standards from the city.

“Before Chief Bolton took office, we already had the highest index in crime. I don’t remember seeing (preceding police chiefs) Ben Click or Bill Rathburn standing here,” he said. “(Bolton) became the original sin baby. All of the things that chiefs had done before, he became the original violator of whatever the standards were.”

For Cerda, morale is the most critical issue.

“The morale is so far down, it’s scraping the bottom of the earth,” he said. “If (the mayor) wants crime to go down, she’s going to have to improve officer moral, which in turns increase productivity.”

“If you bring a chief in here and you don’t have corporate vision, community support or grassroots organizations working to alleviate the crime problems in our community, this theme will continue,” said Gilstrap. “It will only get worse.”

If you go by the two largest black church coalitions in Dallas, former Chief Bolton still fills that bill and should be brought back. They came out in full force to express their views.<br>

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and African American Pastors Coalition (AAPC) joined forces to hold at least two marches and rallies, calling primarily for both the reinstatement of Chief Bolton and the recall of Mayor Miller. On Sept. 3, more than 300 ministers and citizens trekked to City Hall from the steps of The Dallas Morning News and WFAA Channel 8.

“We’re doing due diligence to put in the recall,” said Stephen C. Nash. With the groups shouting “Resend, Recall, Reinstate,” and “New Mayor, New Direction,” the IMA president called the firing of Bolton an ambush on a black leader.

“It’s what black folks have received across the nation,” said Nash. “In Dallas, Texas, we declare that we’ll take it no longer. We’re doing the necessary, saying not only to Laura Miller, but to those who pull her chain that this is a new day. We are determined to see justice done.

“It’s sad to see us march and fight for it, it ought to be automatic. Because we’re part of this city. We’re those who helped to make it great. Our dollars have helped to make your success. We deserve your return.”

Even before Bolton was fired, the black ministers groups have accused Miller of micro-managing Bolton’s department and pressuring Benavides into firing him.

“You are not judge and jury,” said Rev. Karry Wesley, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where Bolton serves as deacon. “We know that’s the type of government you want, but you don’t have it. We’re here to say that Terrell Bolton will be reinstated.” Bolton has set up a legal defense fund with plans to sue the city, saying that his firing violated the city charter.

“I’m confident that justice will be served in both instances, whatever that looks like,” said Rev. Frederick Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church. “It’s going to require a tremendous commitment, planning, strategy and the mobilizing of as many resources as possible. I’m sensing a commitment that this will be long battle.”

The black ministers then went up to the Flag Room, next to City Council chambers, where Hispanic leaders were holding a press conference. They nullified any chances of divisiveness festering between the two groups.

“We’re very troubled at Mr. Benavides’ decision, but that by no means says that we’re against our Hispanic brothers and sisters,” said Nash.

In a letter read by Rosa Orenstein, representing People United for Representation & Equality, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Andres Ruzo said:

“We have been actively engaged with the African American community in addressing mutual business and cultural challenges. We ask for the support of all communities and people of color of goodwill in helping Dallas resolve the divisiveness now facing the city.”

“We implore all people of good will, of all colors and political persuasions, and in particular Hispanics, to raise their voice as one and denounce the racial epithets being employed by some supporters of former Police Chief Bolton,” said Orenstein.

Dr. Christian addressed the audience saying: “Our two organizations stand together in denouncing the racial slurs. We had no part in that, and we will never have anything to do with that. It will take all of us standing together to break the chain that’s necessary for a better Dallas. We will not allow anyone to pit us against one another.”

The next stage of the Bolton saga may take place Sept. 15, when Bolton will speak before the city council in a special hearing. •