Council asks for review of DPD priority‑1 categories; officials say changes await the new chief

Council Member Willis told the Public Safety Committee on April 14 that she is concerned Dallas may designate too many incident types as “priority 1,” which could skew response‑time data and operational expectations. DPD leaders told the committee the issue is under consideration but that any reclassification will be taken up with the new police chief.

"This is one of the things that will be up for consideration right away when you look at these numbers," Council Member Willis said, urging that the distinction between priority categories be studied and compared with other jurisdictions. Chief Reyes confirmed the matter is under consideration and said staff planned to discuss it with the incoming chief once that person arrives.

Officials noted that staffing increases should also help response times. The committee discussed obtaining comparative data from other markets about the effect of moving certain call types out of priority 1 and asked staff to provide an existing list of offenses categorized under each priority. The chair observed that staffing levels reported in the meeting reflect a net increase in officers compared with prior years, and members asked for apples‑to‑apples comparisons before any reclassification.

Committee members and staff agreed the subject warrants a dedicated presentation after the new police chief has settled in so council and leadership can evaluate potential reclassification with consistent data.