DALLAS The City of Dallas has a new top cop. WFAA was first to break the news that Dallas First Assistant Chief David Brown will replaceChief David Kunkle, whose last day on the job is Friday.
Brown said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon thathe was very excited, very humbled to be appointed to the position. This is my home town, I love this city, he added.
He said the selection process had been very competitive.
He said his top priority would be the rank and file, including associations.
I think they need to understand that their issues are my issues. They are the priority... what makes our department is the officers, he said.
I m a great listener and I can be very persuasive. I want to move this department forward together. We re a family and sometimes brothers and sisters don t agree... It s a push for excellence. We won t be compromising on our excellence, he continued.
WFAA was the first media outlet to report yesterday that Brown was expected to take the top position.
WFAA has also learned that Brown's second-in-command is expected to be Assistant ChiefCharles Cato, who has been on the force since 1988, and currently heads homeland security. That will make him the highest-ranking Latino in the department.
Messages have gone out to the force to let them know Brown will be their new chief.
Brown rose through the ranks at the Dallas Police Department. The Oak Cliff native joined the department in August of 1983. In 1999, he became a lieutenant. In 2004, Kunkle promoted him to deputy chief, and he was then made Kunkle's second-in-command in 2005.
Many inside Dallas City Hall believe Brown was groomed for the job. He has been Kunkle's right-hand man.
In 2007, he was asked to serve as interim assistant city manager. He is popular with city leaders and community activists, but has ruffled feathers among the rank-and-file and command staff at DPD.
While some believe Brown is too harshon officers, Brown is unapologetic, saying he can intentionally be hard on officers and command staff to bring the best out of them.
This department nationally renowned. You see that when you see the people who apply for this department. We don't want to lose any momentum in doing that, said Mary Suhm, Dallas City Manager.
I think it's always an advantage if you have the best candidate coming internally. The people know the organization, we know them, so you can have an impact much quicker, said Mayor Tom Leppert.
Brown says he knows the streets of Dallas.
I am born and raised in Dallas. I have a passion for this city, Brown said.
I've served second-in-command during the most successful time the department has experienced, he added.
Crime dropped significantly during the Kunkle era - in which Dallas saw its lowest murder rate in 51 years.
Brown told WFAA he will be beefing up community-based policing. That means more officers working beats and reaching out to residents.
I will have our officers directed to be in communities, talking to citizens, beyond just when they call us, Brown said.
Brownattended the University of Texas from 1979 to 1983 and received his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from Dallas Baptist University in 1999. He got his Masters of Business Administration degree from Amberton University in 2001.
Brown's wife, Sgt. Cedonia Brown, is also a Dallas police officer.
E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
