The History of the Dallas Police Departments Museum

It is hard to imagine what life was like in Dallas in the 1850s. From the first Marshall keeping the peace, to public safety as
we know it today, things have changed. The Official Dallas Police Museum is going to amaze and inform you and its
coming soon.
With more than 165 years of keeping the peace, a wealth of Dallas law enforcement practices, customs, materials and
information has been passed down. But only a handful of men and women have dedicated themselves to preserving and
amassing the glimpses of the Departments history theyve found in boxes stored away, under the eaves or in the dank
basements of municipal buildings.
In 1968, Patrolman Jerry North, unearthed decaying historical records of which he said, A person could sit for hours going
through these record and actually find himself right back in those days. North was among the first on record to be an
avid proponent of a Dallas Police Museum, working for eight years to collect, protect and refurbish records, trophies and
memorabilia of the Departments long history.
In January of 1976, the Dozier Committee was formed by then Retired Officer Dennis Dozier to create a small DPD history
display in a space at 2014 Main Street, which then served as Police Headquarters. When the City reallocated the intended
display space, the records, materials and artifacts gathered by the committee were taken to the Dallas Public Library for
storage.
Not again until 2001, when plans were underway to relocate Headquarters to 1400 South Lamar Street, did Senior
Corporal Jess Lucio ask Chief Terrell Bolton to consider reserving space for the Department museum. Chief Bolton
supported the idea, setting aside 4,000 square feet of the new Headquarters for displays and archival storage, additionally
assigning Lucio to the project. The final step toward the museums reality came on April 23, 2003 when the Dallas City
Council passed Resolution #081307 designating space in the Jack Evans Police Headquarters building for the Dallas Police
Department Museum.
Lucio set about acquisition and installation of a Department helicopter, which is on permanent loan from the City. It is
now suspended from the ceiling of the two-story glass Lobby at Headquarters. Lucio and Senior Corporal Roderick Janich
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have joined forces, bringing Department vehicles of all vintages, makes and models to the Headquarters Lobby,
completing the Museums Phase I. In addition, they have retrieved archived materials from Public Library storage and
continue to sort, index and store historic badges, weapons, uniforms, photographs and videotaped stories bringing the
Departments history to life.
Today, Chief David O. Brown announced the Museums Phase II, which will provide interactive displays, films, photographs
and highlights of the Department and its officers, celebrating the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed
for the community and its people, bringing the Dallas Police Department Museum to life!
Written by Staff Writer Pamela King

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