Dallas police to start posting bar arrests

by Avi Adelman of Barking Dogs

A few months ago, the Dallas Police Central Division chiefs held a series of come-to meetings with Lower Greenville bar/restaurant owners - come-to-Jesus, come-to-Moses, come-to-your favorite heathen idol, you get the picture.

They wanted the businesses to reduce noise, reduce the fights, reduce the troubles and have brighter smiles.

Sorry, folks, ain't gonna happen. The number of arrests in or near bars is at unacceptable levels, and the noise issues are not going away.

So DPD Central is about to take a page from the Arlington Police playbook. Very soon, you will be able to go online and see a running tally of the number of persons arrested in each bar every week. Unlike BD, they won't be naming names, but BD might file some Open Record Requests every few months to get the list. These arrests are not just for Public Intox - we've got a share of Outstanding Warrants, Possession of (fill in the name of your favorite illegal drug) and GBSITPOAO (Generally Being Stupid in the Presence of an Officer).

Okay, so we made that last one up.

According to DPD Central Chief Vincent Golbeck, (not sic):

DPD Central will post the club names, addresses, and arrest activity starting from January 1, 2009 on its own website - link. Arlington PD had a similar program in place. It’s about public awareness.

This is the only entertainment district that we are utilizing overtime (see story - DPD spends too much time and money on Lower Greenville) monies in order to address the public safety issues.

This will be another means to keep the surrounding neighborhoods and clubs aware of each other’s impact on the neighborhood.

Every weekend, the DPD team sends out an activity report to the business and neighborhood leaders. The BelmontNA has been posting this reportfor a few months (link), but without a running body count.

As soon as the meter starts running, BD will link to it. We don't expect to it be anywhere as popular as BD's Drunk List, which has more than 4,000 hits as of Wednesday morning.

Pegasus News content partner - Barking Dogs

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

That's kind of an awesome idea. I wonder how many people checking the list will be doing it to try to find the bars with the most arrests.

Pavel Lishin Verified

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

I wonder how many people checking the list will be doing it to try to find the bars with the most arrests, like me!

Fixed.

Scott Doyle Verified

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Then one day they will arrest folks in hamburger joints...and then what....cant some people just pay their Dallas Tollway fines...A/T., Under arrest with a nervous breakdown.

alexander troup Verified

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

A.T. will probably make all the crime reports...

Travis Bush Verified

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

You know, today, (catch your breath) everyone has a DUI case, somewhere, (used to be called DWI) ESPECIALLY in Hollywood, California. If a famous actor does not have a DUI, then his agent will have one, most likely to help his client, the actor. They take the fall in lots of cases, especially drug possession cases, that is business out there, protect the money maker, even if he or she is a drunk or drugger. And GUARANTEED the judge presiding on a lot of cases, will have had a DUI in his or her's past. Alcohol is used everywhere, folks are depressed and resort to self-medicate, that eases the guilt and fears from our country's sad situation. Helps us to cope. We have lost our way here in USA. Most folks just drink and drug to avoid feeling bad and sad about our country's current situation. That has been the norm for years, but always kept secret, under raps, for years. Posting names, it is commonplace nowadays. People will laugh, amongst themselves, to see thier name on that list!!

Russ Vandeveerdonk Verified

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

While I don’t agree that drug and alcohol use is anything new or just a sign of the times, I do agree that so many people from all walks of life have been convicted of and/or spent a small fortune finding a loophole to get out of a DUI, that it no longer carries the stigma it once did. Not to mention the rest of society who are probably thinking “There but for the grace of God go I”.

I do find it mildly amusing that Avi is so incredibly excited about “outing” these people and has completely misjudged what the general perception will be. It just shows how out of touch he is with society. Poor, angry little man.

jtmbls Anonymous

10 months, 1 week ago
Link to this comment | Suggest removal

Heh, I just read the drunk list entry on his site. This stood out:

<i>It's not cheap or easy getting arrested for Public Intox.</i>

I beg to differ. It may not be cheap, no - you'd have to buy quite a few rounds to get there - but as soon as you're sloshed enough to qualify, it's as easy as stumbling out of the bar and trying to crawl home!