About

Mission

The mission of the Constitutional Policing Unit is to ensure that the Dallas Police Department preserves its integrity by upholding the highest standards of policing – legal, moral, and ethical. For the benefit of Dallas officers and communities, the Unit aims to:

Reinforce the Department's commitment to transparency and continuous improvement; and

Affirm the alignment of the Department’s internal controls with recognized effective policing practices.

Vision

The Constitutional Policing Unit is committed to establishing the nation's premier framework for self-assessment and self-correction within a law enforcement agency. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, we strive to strengthen the Dallas Police Department for the future, enhance officer and public safety, and redefine the expectations of law enforcement.

Overview

The Constitutional Policing Unit was established in 2023 and performs five core functions.

Independent Analysis

Partner with internal and external subject matter experts to evaluate the Dallas Police Department's internal controls; considering recognized effective policing practices, provide recommendations for improvement to the Department's senior leadership.

Implementation

Facilitate the successful implementation of identified improvements to the Department's internal controls, as approved by the Department's senior leadership.

Monitoring

Confirm long-term adherence to implemented improvements; continuously assess the quality of the Dallas Police Department's internal controls to ensure they align with evolving standards and community needs.

Training and Education

Foster a culture of continuous learning; develop and implement training programs for officers to enhance the effectiveness of their actions in the field.

Officer and Community Engagement

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate open dialogue, stay informed about emerging trends in law enforcement, and enhance the effectiveness of the Dallas Police Department's efforts to establish the nation's premier framework for self-assessment and self-correction within a law enforcement agency.

It is my hope that in the future it becomes standard across all law enforcement agencies to have a compliance bureau charged with bringing in constitutional policing with a direct line to the chief or commissioner of the agency and that is responsible for ensuring the department does not lose its way.

- Honorable James K. Bredar, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland