No money to fix jail, but Dallas Sheriff says she can afford new SWAT team

by Scott Henson of Grits For Breakfast

If Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez can't afford to hire or train enough guards or provide adequate medical care at the jail, how does she have money to finance her own shiny new SWAT team? Trey Garrison summed up my thoughts on the matter at Frontburner:

Great. Just what Dallas County needs. Another SWAT team. And how will they fund it? Through the magic of asset forfeiture. Just swell. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department can't run a jail — heck, apparently, they can't figure out how to transfer a vehicle title over the course of four years — but they want deputies to gear up and play soldier. What could possibly go wrong?

Personally, I think she's just jealous and wants her own TV show. The Sheriff doesn't need her own SWAT team. There's too big a risk it'd be as poorly managed as the Dallas jail crisis (which she inherited, but has not fixed). Sheriff Valdez needs to focus on performing the job she's already got in front of her a little better before seeking out new, high-risk tasks to screw up.

Pegasus News content partner - Grits For Breakfast

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Nathan, says:

Thats OK, the county is forking over taxpayer money for a suspension bridge over the 'mighty' Trinity(!) that we never voted on. Hopefully the tollroad will be voted down and the county can send that money over to East and South Dallas for some much needed road repair. Then Lupe's SWAT team can travel through the city with ease on their way to all of the burger barns and taco stands.