White Dallas Officer On Leave After Making Coin Black Police Association Says He S Racist

Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday that the officer’s design for the South Central Patrol Division coin marked the department. He apologized to the community. Police have said south Dallas is a priority, something they reiterated after two mass shootings there this spring. “I don’t have it,” Garcia said. “I will not continue to watch. We have a role model at the Dallas Police Department. I will not allow one person to soil this and tarnish our brand and what we do. “If there’s a culture issue here, I’m going to change it or die trying,” he added. Terrance Hopkins, president of the Black Police Association, said he was extremely concerned that some people saw the coin and didn’t flag it. On one side, the coin depicts a drug house and an altered image of the Pillsbury Doughboy, who has gold teeth and is holding money and a gun. Hopkins said the image refers to a drug dealer named Doughboy from the film Boyz N The Hood. The words “Big ‘T’ Plaza” are splashed across the middle of the coin, which Hopkins said refers to a Dallas mall frequented by black patrons. A police squad car is on one side of the coin, directly opposite a purple car with gold rims and big wheels. The coin also has police numbers referring to South Dallas. The front of the coin shows a Dallas police badge with the words “South Central” and “15 years” at the top and bottom. The South Central division covers southern parts of Dallas, including east and southeast Oak Cliff, and parts of Red Bird. It includes the area between State Highway 67 and Interstate 45. A screenshot of a Facebook post — which was shared with a group of Dallas Police Union members — said the coin was made in honor of the South Central Patrol Division’s 15th anniversary. Mike Matta, the head of the Dallas Police Association, said he was unaware of the post until someone brought it to his attention. He said it was “immediately deleted”. Matta shared the message he sent to members of the Dallas Police Association. He wrote that “when a person or an organization makes a mistake in judgment or a mistake, they must own it in order to move forward.” He said he believed the coin and post were done in poor taste and “had no business being on the DPA members page”. “I understand that it is my responsibility to maintain the moral compass of the DPA member page,” Mata wrote. “I want to apologize to every person who was hurt or offended by the post and promise to be more diligent in my duties to ensure that this organization and media sites respect all members.” The author of the Facebook post asked for $10 for each coin and said the coins could be delivered by the first week of October. Those interested in purchasing a coin can pay via Venmo. It is unclear how many coins were sold. The officer whose Venmo was listed, Caleb McCollum, could not be reached for comment. Records show he has been assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division. His Venmo account shows payments for various currencies, including other patrol areas. A person who bought “3x SC coins” received a refund on Tuesday, the account shows. “Officers and the community are asking questions,” Hopkins said. “Those questions are, ‘Is this how the white officers in our community see us?’ Is that the only vision they have for Black people?’ There are too many good things going on in the southern community for that to be the only way some people see us.”

Challenge coins

Garcia said the post was shot down once it was brought to the attention of commanders. He said administrators found out late Tuesday. It was unclear when information about the coin was first published or if images appeared elsewhere. Garcia described a challenge coin as a commemorative coin that often depicts police stations and “something that’s memorable.” He said it is usually a source of pride and there is a procedure “on how to bring a challenge coin that is appropriate”, which he said police will investigate as part of the investigation. Other agencies and groups also produce challenge coins. He said the officer was immediately told to stop, so he doesn’t believe coins were manufactured. He said the officer involved would be dealt with responsibly and swiftly. He did not provide further details. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia (right) listens to Terrance Hopkins (left), President of the Black Police Association, as he criticized a Dallas police officer who made and tried to sell a challenge coin he said was racist at a news conference on Wednesday at the Black Police Association headquarters in Dallas. (Kelli Smith/Staff Photographer/) “We’re recruiting from the human race,” the leader said. “I don’t think there’s a police chief in America who’s going to sit here and tell you they don’t have officers who might have that mentality. It’s what a department does, what a community does, in response to that … that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.” Dallas police officers have faced criticism in the past for racial insensitivity. In 2019, four officers were placed on leave and more than 20 others were investigated after The Plain View Project researchers released a years-long database of public posts by officers in eight departments, including Dallas. Of the 5,000 posts, more than 300 were from Dallas officers who were active at the time. The posts included Islamophobic comments, racial stereotypes and jokes about police brutality. At least 13 Dallas officers were later disciplined under then-Chief U. Reneé Hall. Most recently, police made south Dallas their priority after a spate of shootings there earlier this year, including a mass shooting at a concert and another at a party. Garcia said at the time that the officers had come to the area not only to eliminate crime, but also to instill positivity. Garcia said Wednesday that the officer’s actions with the currency “affect us all.” “We’re our own worst enemy at times,” Garcia said. “I’ve been out in the community, I’ve seen our honorable men and women give their lives and passion to our residents, regardless of this beautiful diverse city we have here.”

“He should go”

Council members Tennell Atkins and Carolyn King Arnold, whose districts include parts of south Dallas, spoke at the news conference Wednesday with the chief, Hopkins and other police and fire chiefs to decry the coin. Atkins said the officer should be fired. He said the coin betrayed residents and now he has to figure out what to tell people when they ask if they can trust the South Central Patrol Division or a person in uniform. Hopkins, the president of the Black Police Association, said he also believes the officer should not be on the force. “He should be gone,” Atkins said of the officer. “We must not tolerate this.” Arnold said she was also troubled that it happened after years of neighborhood policing and efforts to strengthen the bond between police and the community. He said that the link is broken with this currency. “Obviously, we still have a culture to deal with,” he said. “Right now in the city of Dallas, we’re focusing on racial equity, to remove some of the systemic practices that have been with us for years. And so, today is a day to reassess where we go from here.”

title: “White Dallas Officer On Leave After Making Coin Black Police Association Says He S Racist Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Mike Mccue”

Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday that the officer’s design for the South Central Patrol Division coin marked the department. He apologized to the community. Police have said south Dallas is a priority, something they reiterated after two mass shootings there this spring. “I don’t have it,” Garcia said. “I will not continue to watch. We have a role model at the Dallas Police Department. I will not allow one person to soil this and tarnish our brand and what we do. “If there’s a culture issue here, I’m going to change it or die trying,” he added. Terrance Hopkins, president of the Black Police Association, said he was extremely concerned that some people saw the coin and didn’t flag it. On one side, the coin depicts a drug house and an altered image of the Pillsbury Doughboy, who has gold teeth and is holding money and a gun. Hopkins said the image refers to a drug dealer named Doughboy from the film Boyz N The Hood. The words “Big ‘T’ Plaza” are splashed across the middle of the coin, which Hopkins said refers to a Dallas mall frequented by black patrons. A police squad car is on one side of the coin, directly opposite a purple car with gold rims and big wheels. The coin also has police numbers referring to South Dallas. The front of the coin shows a Dallas police badge with the words “South Central” and “15 years” at the top and bottom. The South Central division covers southern parts of Dallas, including east and southeast Oak Cliff, and parts of Red Bird. It includes the area between State Highway 67 and Interstate 45. A screenshot of a Facebook post — which was shared with a group of Dallas Police Union members — said the coin was made in honor of the South Central Patrol Division’s 15th anniversary. Mike Matta, the head of the Dallas Police Association, said he was unaware of the post until someone brought it to his attention. He said it was “immediately deleted”. Matta shared the message he sent to members of the Dallas Police Association. He wrote that “when a person or an organization makes a mistake in judgment or a mistake, they must own it in order to move forward.” He said he believed the coin and post were done in poor taste and “had no business being on the DPA members page”. “I understand that it is my responsibility to maintain the moral compass of the DPA member page,” Mata wrote. “I want to apologize to every person who was hurt or offended by the post and promise to be more diligent in my duties to ensure that this organization and media sites respect all members.” The author of the Facebook post asked for $10 for each coin and said the coins could be delivered by the first week of October. Those interested in purchasing a coin can pay via Venmo. It is unclear how many coins were sold. The officer whose Venmo was listed, Caleb McCollum, could not be reached for comment. Records show he has been assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division. His Venmo account shows payments for various currencies, including other patrol areas. A person who bought “3x SC coins” received a refund on Tuesday, the account shows. “Officers and the community are asking questions,” Hopkins said. “Those questions are, ‘Is this how the white officers in our community see us?’ Is that the only vision they have for Black people?’ There are too many good things going on in the southern community for that to be the only way some people see us.”

Challenge coins

Garcia said the post was shot down once it was brought to the attention of commanders. He said administrators found out late Tuesday. It was unclear when information about the coin was first published or if images appeared elsewhere. Garcia described a challenge coin as a commemorative coin that often depicts police stations and “something that’s memorable.” He said it is usually a source of pride and there is a procedure “on how to bring a challenge coin that is appropriate”, which he said police will investigate as part of the investigation. Other agencies and groups also produce challenge coins. He said the officer was immediately told to stop, so he doesn’t believe coins were manufactured. He said the officer involved would be dealt with responsibly and swiftly. He did not provide further details. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia (right) listens to Terrance Hopkins (left), President of the Black Police Association, as he criticized a Dallas police officer who made and tried to sell a challenge coin he said was racist at a news conference on Wednesday at the Black Police Association headquarters in Dallas. (Kelli Smith/Staff Photographer/) “We’re recruiting from the human race,” the leader said. “I don’t think there’s a police chief in America who’s going to sit here and tell you they don’t have officers who might have that mentality. It’s what a department does, what a community does, in response to that … that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.” Dallas police officers have faced criticism in the past for racial insensitivity. In 2019, four officers were placed on leave and more than 20 others were investigated after The Plain View Project researchers released a years-long database of public posts by officers in eight departments, including Dallas. Of the 5,000 posts, more than 300 were from Dallas officers who were active at the time. The posts included Islamophobic comments, racial stereotypes and jokes about police brutality. At least 13 Dallas officers were later disciplined under then-Chief U. Reneé Hall. Most recently, police made south Dallas their priority after a spate of shootings there earlier this year, including a mass shooting at a concert and another at a party. Garcia said at the time that the officers had come to the area not only to eliminate crime, but also to instill positivity. Garcia said Wednesday that the officer’s actions with the currency “affect us all.” “We’re our own worst enemy at times,” Garcia said. “I’ve been out in the community, I’ve seen our honorable men and women give their lives and passion to our residents, regardless of this beautiful diverse city we have here.”

“He should go”

Council members Tennell Atkins and Carolyn King Arnold, whose districts include parts of south Dallas, spoke at the news conference Wednesday with the chief, Hopkins and other police and fire chiefs to decry the coin. Atkins said the officer should be fired. He said the coin betrayed residents and now he has to figure out what to tell people when they ask if they can trust the South Central Patrol Division or a person in uniform. Hopkins, the president of the Black Police Association, said he also believes the officer should not be on the force. “He should be gone,” Atkins said of the officer. “We must not tolerate this.” Arnold said she was also troubled that it happened after years of neighborhood policing and efforts to strengthen the bond between police and the community. He said that the link is broken with this currency. “Obviously, we still have a culture to deal with,” he said. “Right now in the city of Dallas, we’re focusing on racial equity, to remove some of the systemic practices that have been with us for years. And so, today is a day to reassess where we go from here.”

title: “White Dallas Officer On Leave After Making Coin Black Police Association Says He S Racist Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Melvin Rich”

Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday that the officer’s design for the South Central Patrol Division coin marked the department. He apologized to the community. Police have said south Dallas is a priority, something they reiterated after two mass shootings there this spring. “I don’t have it,” Garcia said. “I will not continue to watch. We have a role model at the Dallas Police Department. I will not allow one person to soil this and tarnish our brand and what we do. “If there’s a culture issue here, I’m going to change it or die trying,” he added. Terrance Hopkins, president of the Black Police Association, said he was extremely concerned that some people saw the coin and didn’t flag it. On one side, the coin depicts a drug house and an altered image of the Pillsbury Doughboy, who has gold teeth and is holding money and a gun. Hopkins said the image refers to a drug dealer named Doughboy from the film Boyz N The Hood. The words “Big ‘T’ Plaza” are splashed across the middle of the coin, which Hopkins said refers to a Dallas mall frequented by black patrons. A police squad car is on one side of the coin, directly opposite a purple car with gold rims and big wheels. The coin also has police numbers referring to South Dallas. The front of the coin shows a Dallas police badge with the words “South Central” and “15 years” at the top and bottom. The South Central division covers southern parts of Dallas, including east and southeast Oak Cliff, and parts of Red Bird. It includes the area between State Highway 67 and Interstate 45. A screenshot of a Facebook post — which was shared with a group of Dallas Police Union members — said the coin was made in honor of the South Central Patrol Division’s 15th anniversary. Mike Matta, the head of the Dallas Police Association, said he was unaware of the post until someone brought it to his attention. He said it was “immediately deleted”. Matta shared the message he sent to members of the Dallas Police Association. He wrote that “when a person or an organization makes a mistake in judgment or a mistake, they must own it in order to move forward.” He said he believed the coin and post were done in poor taste and “had no business being on the DPA members page”. “I understand that it is my responsibility to maintain the moral compass of the DPA member page,” Mata wrote. “I want to apologize to every person who was hurt or offended by the post and promise to be more diligent in my duties to ensure that this organization and media sites respect all members.” The author of the Facebook post asked for $10 for each coin and said the coins could be delivered by the first week of October. Those interested in purchasing a coin can pay via Venmo. It is unclear how many coins were sold. The officer whose Venmo was listed, Caleb McCollum, could not be reached for comment. Records show he has been assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division. His Venmo account shows payments for various currencies, including other patrol areas. A person who bought “3x SC coins” received a refund on Tuesday, the account shows. “Officers and the community are asking questions,” Hopkins said. “Those questions are, ‘Is this how the white officers in our community see us?’ Is that the only vision they have for Black people?’ There are too many good things going on in the southern community for that to be the only way some people see us.”

Challenge coins

Garcia said the post was shot down once it was brought to the attention of commanders. He said administrators found out late Tuesday. It was unclear when information about the coin was first published or if images appeared elsewhere. Garcia described a challenge coin as a commemorative coin that often depicts police stations and “something that’s memorable.” He said it is usually a source of pride and there is a procedure “on how to bring a challenge coin that is appropriate”, which he said police will investigate as part of the investigation. Other agencies and groups also produce challenge coins. He said the officer was immediately told to stop, so he doesn’t believe coins were manufactured. He said the officer involved would be dealt with responsibly and swiftly. He did not provide further details. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia (right) listens to Terrance Hopkins (left), President of the Black Police Association, as he criticized a Dallas police officer who made and tried to sell a challenge coin he said was racist at a news conference on Wednesday at the Black Police Association headquarters in Dallas. (Kelli Smith/Staff Photographer/) “We’re recruiting from the human race,” the leader said. “I don’t think there’s a police chief in America who’s going to sit here and tell you they don’t have officers who might have that mentality. It’s what a department does, what a community does, in response to that … that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.” Dallas police officers have faced criticism in the past for racial insensitivity. In 2019, four officers were placed on leave and more than 20 others were investigated after The Plain View Project researchers released a years-long database of public posts by officers in eight departments, including Dallas. Of the 5,000 posts, more than 300 were from Dallas officers who were active at the time. The posts included Islamophobic comments, racial stereotypes and jokes about police brutality. At least 13 Dallas officers were later disciplined under then-Chief U. Reneé Hall. Most recently, police made south Dallas their priority after a spate of shootings there earlier this year, including a mass shooting at a concert and another at a party. Garcia said at the time that the officers had come to the area not only to eliminate crime, but also to instill positivity. Garcia said Wednesday that the officer’s actions with the currency “affect us all.” “We’re our own worst enemy at times,” Garcia said. “I’ve been out in the community, I’ve seen our honorable men and women give their lives and passion to our residents, regardless of this beautiful diverse city we have here.”

“He should go”

Council members Tennell Atkins and Carolyn King Arnold, whose districts include parts of south Dallas, spoke at the news conference Wednesday with the chief, Hopkins and other police and fire chiefs to decry the coin. Atkins said the officer should be fired. He said the coin betrayed residents and now he has to figure out what to tell people when they ask if they can trust the South Central Patrol Division or a person in uniform. Hopkins, the president of the Black Police Association, said he also believes the officer should not be on the force. “He should be gone,” Atkins said of the officer. “We must not tolerate this.” Arnold said she was also troubled that it happened after years of neighborhood policing and efforts to strengthen the bond between police and the community. He said that the link is broken with this currency. “Obviously, we still have a culture to deal with,” he said. “Right now in the city of Dallas, we’re focusing on racial equity, to remove some of the systemic practices that have been with us for years. And so, today is a day to reassess where we go from here.”

title: “White Dallas Officer On Leave After Making Coin Black Police Association Says He S Racist Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Cheryle Smith”

Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday that the officer’s design for the South Central Patrol Division coin marked the department. He apologized to the community. Police have said south Dallas is a priority, something they reiterated after two mass shootings there this spring. “I don’t have it,” Garcia said. “I will not continue to watch. We have a role model at the Dallas Police Department. I will not allow one person to soil this and tarnish our brand and what we do. “If there’s a culture issue here, I’m going to change it or die trying,” he added. Terrance Hopkins, president of the Black Police Association, said he was extremely concerned that some people saw the coin and didn’t flag it. On one side, the coin depicts a drug house and an altered image of the Pillsbury Doughboy, who has gold teeth and is holding money and a gun. Hopkins said the image refers to a drug dealer named Doughboy from the film Boyz N The Hood. The words “Big ‘T’ Plaza” are splashed across the middle of the coin, which Hopkins said refers to a Dallas mall frequented by black patrons. A police squad car is on one side of the coin, directly opposite a purple car with gold rims and big wheels. The coin also has police numbers referring to South Dallas. The front of the coin shows a Dallas police badge with the words “South Central” and “15 years” at the top and bottom. The South Central division covers southern parts of Dallas, including east and southeast Oak Cliff, and parts of Red Bird. It includes the area between State Highway 67 and Interstate 45. A screenshot of a Facebook post — which was shared with a group of Dallas Police Union members — said the coin was made in honor of the South Central Patrol Division’s 15th anniversary. Mike Matta, the head of the Dallas Police Association, said he was unaware of the post until someone brought it to his attention. He said it was “immediately deleted”. Matta shared the message he sent to members of the Dallas Police Association. He wrote that “when a person or an organization makes a mistake in judgment or a mistake, they must own it in order to move forward.” He said he believed the coin and post were done in poor taste and “had no business being on the DPA members page”. “I understand that it is my responsibility to maintain the moral compass of the DPA member page,” Mata wrote. “I want to apologize to every person who was hurt or offended by the post and promise to be more diligent in my duties to ensure that this organization and media sites respect all members.” The author of the Facebook post asked for $10 for each coin and said the coins could be delivered by the first week of October. Those interested in purchasing a coin can pay via Venmo. It is unclear how many coins were sold. The officer whose Venmo was listed, Caleb McCollum, could not be reached for comment. Records show he has been assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division. His Venmo account shows payments for various currencies, including other patrol areas. A person who bought “3x SC coins” received a refund on Tuesday, the account shows. “Officers and the community are asking questions,” Hopkins said. “Those questions are, ‘Is this how the white officers in our community see us?’ Is that the only vision they have for Black people?’ There are too many good things going on in the southern community for that to be the only way some people see us.”

Challenge coins

Garcia said the post was shot down once it was brought to the attention of commanders. He said administrators found out late Tuesday. It was unclear when information about the coin was first published or if images appeared elsewhere. Garcia described a challenge coin as a commemorative coin that often depicts police stations and “something that’s memorable.” He said it is usually a source of pride and there is a procedure “on how to bring a challenge coin that is appropriate”, which he said police will investigate as part of the investigation. Other agencies and groups also produce challenge coins. He said the officer was immediately told to stop, so he doesn’t believe coins were manufactured. He said the officer involved would be dealt with responsibly and swiftly. He did not provide further details. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia (right) listens to Terrance Hopkins (left), President of the Black Police Association, as he criticized a Dallas police officer who made and tried to sell a challenge coin he said was racist at a news conference on Wednesday at the Black Police Association headquarters in Dallas. (Kelli Smith/Staff Photographer/) “We’re recruiting from the human race,” the leader said. “I don’t think there’s a police chief in America who’s going to sit here and tell you they don’t have officers who might have that mentality. It’s what a department does, what a community does, in response to that … that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.” Dallas police officers have faced criticism in the past for racial insensitivity. In 2019, four officers were placed on leave and more than 20 others were investigated after The Plain View Project researchers released a years-long database of public posts by officers in eight departments, including Dallas. Of the 5,000 posts, more than 300 were from Dallas officers who were active at the time. The posts included Islamophobic comments, racial stereotypes and jokes about police brutality. At least 13 Dallas officers were later disciplined under then-Chief U. Reneé Hall. Most recently, police made south Dallas their priority after a spate of shootings there earlier this year, including a mass shooting at a concert and another at a party. Garcia said at the time that the officers had come to the area not only to eliminate crime, but also to instill positivity. Garcia said Wednesday that the officer’s actions with the currency “affect us all.” “We’re our own worst enemy at times,” Garcia said. “I’ve been out in the community, I’ve seen our honorable men and women give their lives and passion to our residents, regardless of this beautiful diverse city we have here.”

“He should go”

Council members Tennell Atkins and Carolyn King Arnold, whose districts include parts of south Dallas, spoke at the news conference Wednesday with the chief, Hopkins and other police and fire chiefs to decry the coin. Atkins said the officer should be fired. He said the coin betrayed residents and now he has to figure out what to tell people when they ask if they can trust the South Central Patrol Division or a person in uniform. Hopkins, the president of the Black Police Association, said he also believes the officer should not be on the force. “He should be gone,” Atkins said of the officer. “We must not tolerate this.” Arnold said she was also troubled that it happened after years of neighborhood policing and efforts to strengthen the bond between police and the community. He said that the link is broken with this currency. “Obviously, we still have a culture to deal with,” he said. “Right now in the city of Dallas, we’re focusing on racial equity, to remove some of the systemic practices that have been with us for years. And so, today is a day to reassess where we go from here.”