DALLAS — In 1976, M. Joyce Brown made Oak Cliff her home, but the comfort home should bring has been blocked by distress in recent years. “I was disgusted. I’m not joking. Here I am at home, and I can’t sit in my own house and be safe,” said Brown.
Over the past few weeks, there have been several violent crimes, some fatal, within a mile of where of Easter Avenue and Deer Path Drive in Oak Cliff.
Dallas Police showed body video of a shooting that happened Thursday in which an officer was shot, and two teens were arrested.
“Had it not been for the actions of our officers that day, there would have been a lot more violence committed by that individual that night,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said.
That injured officer is recovering.
Then on Saturday, police found a victim’s body from a shooting on Mentor Avenue.
In February, there was another shooting on Easter Avenue. Investigators said a teen died in that shooting during a suspected robbery.
“We don’t want to continue to see a loss especially what we’re seeing now is that some of these crimes are being perpetrated by teens," said Carolyn King Arnold, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, who represents District 4. "Their lives are already over before they get started good,”
“It doesn’t just impact that particular family. It impacts the neighborhood,” said King Arnold.
She and Brown formed the “District 4 Public Safety Task Force.” Brown serves as chair.
“I did recommend that they look at purchasing gunshot technology to determine where the gunshots are coming from,” said Brown.
King Arnold said research on gunshot technology is now in the city’s budget.
“Be vocal about the fact that you have a right to be in your neighborhood. We want to take our neighborhood back,” said King Arnold.
“For some reason, we feel like it’s all the government’s responsibility to handle. When you know things that are happening in your neighborhood, you need to let them know,” said Brown.
It is a two-way street that Brown and King Arnold said is only successful when everyone works together.