Dallas police chief deserves raise

by Bob Reynolds of of Metro City Beat

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle is responsible for 4,300 employees, about one-third of the city’s workforce. His compensation, $168,500 annually, is fixed by the City Manager.

The City Auditor, Craig Kinton was employed one year ago at a salary of $160,000. After his first year, he was given a 7 1/2% raise of $12,000 (to $172,000) by the City Council. Kinton’s department has about 40 employees.

Kinton took over from an “acting” Auditor who served two years, but did not meet the City Charter requirement that the Auditor be licensed as a CPA. During this period, most of the experienced staff auditors left the Auditor’s Office. Evidently Kinton has done a credible job in rebuilding a professional staff and completing the scheduled audit projects.

Kunkle was hired in 2004 for $138,623. He took over a department with low morale and plagued by scandal. He continues to discipline wayward officers and has earned high marks from his peers, the City Council and the general public. Chief Kunkle needs to rewarded for a job well done