Dallas Police Chief Fires Three Troubled Police Officers

Dallas, Texas

I was beginning to wonder why the week had been going so slow in the news department. However, I knew it wouldn’t be long until something came our way. This story is actually a positive one and confirms our belief in Dallas Police Chief David Brown for handling problem officers. Brown fired three police officers Friday, one for using inappropriate force on a handcuffed prisoner, and two who were arrested on drunken-driving charges.

So far, that brings the total number of officers fired to 21, through the department’s internal affairs disciplinary process since Brown assumed command of the department.

“The terminations today again point out the importance of officers conducting themselves ethically, fairly and with integrity,” Brown said in a written statement.

More good news involves a newly-created early intervention program for troubled officers. This comes after a number of high-profile, use of force incidents. About a dozen officers have been identified as potential candidates for the program. A supervisor can document problem behavior or poor performance and request that the officer be considered for the program. Or officers can be placed in the program if they meet certain criteria, such as having three use-of-force complaints filed against them within a two-year period.

Officers placed in the program will be monitored for at least 90 days. Supervisors will provide weekly and monthly progress reports. Officers must complete 40 hours of training and can only drive cars with in-car cameras. Those who are repeatedly placed in the program will face progressively stricter restrictions, such as not working in jobs that require public contact or not being allowed to work off-duty jobs.

The situation of Officer Michael Mosher, one of the three officers fired Friday, is just the type of outcome police commanders hope to avoid. Mosher has repeatedly been the subject of use-of-force complaints since joining the department in 2004. Three years ago, he received a five-day suspension after internal investigators found he used inappropriate force on a juvenile.

The investigation that led to his firing resulted from a January arrest in which other police officers told supervisors he used inappropriate force on a handcuffed prisoner in Far North Dallas.

“There’s a pattern there that is disturbing,” said Assistant Chief Vince Golbeck, who oversees the city’s seven patrol stations.

Also fired were:

Officer Jason Rowland, 34, who was stopped for speeding March 15 by a Hickory Creek police officer. He was then arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. He was hired in 2001.

Officer Brandy Lindsey, 28, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Nov. 7 in Murphy. According to police records, an officer pulled Lindsey over because she was speeding and driving erratically. A blood alcohol test obtained through a search warrant showed a level of 0.14, nearly double the legal limit. She joined the force in 2006.

Again, we salute Dallas Police Chief David Brown!