Dallas Police Leaders, Public Worry About Response Times as Officers Leave Agency

Dallas Police officers have been leaving the police department in droves, and critics say that’s affecting what happens when people in crisis call 911.

“It really took too long for them to get here. I was thinking he was going to die,” said Montreg Ross about his brother Robert who was stabbed.

Officers working overtime responded 16 minutes after the initial call, twice as long as it’s supposed to take.

Robert Ross survived, but Dallas Police leaders say the call is an example of what can and likely will happen if the city doesn’t find a way to hire more officers, CBS DFW reports.

“We do have incidences that start out as one thing and as time increases the violence could increase and that’s the time officers should be arriving at the car,” said Mike Mata, president of the Dallas Police Association.