Dallas’ Project Safe Neighborhoods Taskforce earned one of just two “Outstanding Overall Partnership” awards from the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox announced today.

Dubbed “Operation Badge #10934” in honor of fallen Dallas Police Officer Rogelio Santander, Dallas PSN was launched in February 2018 to tackle increasing violent crime. Led by U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox and Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, the PSN Taskforce –  a coalition of federal and local law enforcement that includes FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service – has already made more than 120 arrests inside the PSN “hotspot,” a historically crime-riddled community nestled at the intersection of Route 75 and LBJ.

Over the past eight months, the hotspot has seen a 19.9% reduction in violent crime.

“Our PSN Taskforce in Dallas is Texas-sized,” Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker said at an awards ceremony in Kansas City, MO Thursday. “It brings together 60 people, including law enforcement officers, local government officials, local school personnel, and 15 community organizations.”

“I’m incredibly proud of the way we’ve been able to marshal resources from federal and local law enforcement to foster lasting change in a neighborhood that sorely needs our help,” said Nealy Cox. “None of this would have been possible without our law enforcement team, which includes DPD Chief Hall, FBI SAC Eric Jackson, DEA SAC Clyde Shelley, ATF SAC Jeffrey Boshek, U.S. Marshal Rick Taylor, and many others.”

“I am extremely proud of the partnership between the Dallas Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office with Project Safe Neighborhood,” Chief Hall said in a statement. “The work of the Dallas Project Safe Neighborhood team is making a difference and being recognized by the Department of Justice.  This enforcement effort is beneficial and allows us to focus on concentrated crime areas, while engaging with the community.”   

Dallas’ PSN initiative relies on a three-pronged approach combining traditional enforcement, community outreach, and recidivism reduction.  Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals with felony crimes, from carjacking to straw purchasing. They’ve also held nearly 50 community events to explain how residents can help keep communities safe, and hosted nearly 2,500 ex-convicts and parolees at monthly “reentry nights” outlining ramifications of re-offending and presenting a buffet of resources, from job placement programs to counseling opportunities.

The Dallas PSN Taskforce is joined in the overall partnership category by Jackson, Mississippi’s PSN team. Ten other districts were honored for individual and organizational contributions to Project Safe Neighborhoods. The Northern District of Texas’ PSN operation is managed by Coordinator P.J. Meitl. More information on Dallas PSN here.