DALLAS — The Dallas City Council repealed part of a 1988 city ordinance requiring the city to maintain a ratio of three police officers for every 1,000 residents.
Members approved the move Wednesday, 8-2, with little discussion. Mayor Eric Johnson and Councilman Jesse Moreno were the lone no votes, with five members absent.
The motion aims to protect the city from lawsuits. One of the so-called HERO amendments voters approved on election day limited the city's immunity, making it easier for anyone to sue Dallas when it violates its own rules or breaks state law.
The city does not currently have enough police officers to meet the officer-resident ratio, meaning it could be held liable for violating the 1988 ordinance. Council elected to remove the ratio requirement, mooting the issue.
Pete Marocco, who organized support for the HERO initiative, accused members of seeking revenge with their motion.
"Today's reckless and spiteful decision by the city council only demonstrated their total lack of professionalism and research and egotistical grudge against the people's express will," Marocco said in a statement to WFAA.
Every city council member, along with dozens of other current and former elected officials, opposed the HERO amendment package prior to the November election. The policymakers argued one proposal, forcing the city to hire more than 800 police officers, would blow holes in the city's budget and force Dallas to lower law enforcement hiring standards.
Still, voters approved that amendment and the other limiting the city's immunity from lawsuits.
Many of the council meeting's attendees, including Marocco, expected spirited debate over the motion Wednesday. Instead, members spent nearly two hours in executive session, meaning any direct discussion of the matter Wednesday took place behind closed doors.