Dallas’ new interim police chief says one of his goals is to recruit more officers from across the state to the department.
As Michael Igo steps into the top leadership position at the Dallas Police Department, he wants to continue the momentum built by Eddie Garcia and talks about the challenges facing the department.
For a 33-year career Dallas police officer who many in the department told us would be ready on day one for the job, Igo shared with us on day six as interim police chief what he looks for in leadership.
“To be an effective police chief, you’ve got to be a good communicator,” Igo said.
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Igo counts his experience, too, which includes stints in just about every division of the police department, most recently as executive assistant chief under Garcia, as key to what he sees his primary role as now: continuing Dallas’ downward violent crime trend.
Igo said the violent crime reduction plan implemented three years ago by his predecessor will continue.
“I am not looking to change our violent crime plan,” Igo told NBC 5. “I have regular discussions with the criminologists from UTSA.”
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“It’s a plan that’s working. It’s effective. We have 53 less victims of homicide (to date vs 2023) as of the end of last month. I will continue to have those discussions. If we need to make changes, I’ll make changes with my violent crime team.”
When it comes to police staffing, Igo said the department met its goal of hiring 250 officers this year, with the same goal in place for 2025.
The challenge is sustaining the momentum while working to keep officers, especially those with less than five years of service, from leaving for other departments.
"I am looking at different ways, obviously, to recruit," Igo said. "I want to do a better job in this state and the DFW Metroplex area for recruiting.”
“We’re at a point in this department where we’re getting a little more senior on the upper end and a little more younger on the front end,” Igo said. “So, yes, it is sustainable, but I’m going to find creative ways, and we’re looking at ways to keep our officers here a little bit longer.”
As for how long he might serve in the interim role, Igo said for as long as the department needs. While he admitted he’s in the role sooner than he might’ve imagined, he’s confident the experience that placed him in the position will sustain him.
Igo added that he doesn’t know if he will apply for the job full-time yet, but in the meantime, he said he looked forward to connecting with more members of the public, many of whom might be meeting him for the first time, too.
“(I want them to know) that I care about the city. I care about what happens in our communities. I want to make sure we’re doing the best job we can policing for all of our communities, and I love this department,” Igo said.
