The Community Police Oversight Board on Wednesday approved two Office of Community Police Oversight reviews and voted to ask the Dallas Police Department to establish a vehicle‑pursuit review process. The board also voted to open an independent OCPO investigation into a separate complaint concerning alleged mistreatment and a failure to accommodate a complainant with disabilities.

The board considered three OCPO items:

1) CN2024002 — an officer‑involved shooting that followed a 14‑minute vehicle pursuit on July 25, 2023. OCPO's review agreed with Internal Affairs that the use of deadly force by the on‑scene officer was justified. OCPO found multiple DPD pursuit‑policy violations, including: crossing a divided highway, exceeding the department's three‑vehicle pursuit limit, and officers driving code‑3 to "catch up" to an active pursuit without supervisory direction. OCPO recommended that DPD establish an independent review process for high‑speed vehicle pursuits that would be conducted by reviewers not involved in the incident.

The board voted to approve OCPO's findings on CN2024002. The motion passed unanimously. The board directed OCPO to send the report and the recommendation to Chief Daniel Como for review and response.

2) NI2025‑0534 — a complaint by Nariah Williams alleging a 2020 shooting investigation had been mis‑titled, that property taken as evidence was not returned, and that investigators coerced or mischaracterized statements during later enforcement encounters. OCPO investigators examined body‑worn camera footage, property‑room records and department files and found the record supported the police classifications and that evidence remained in the property room. OCPO's findings listed the allegations as unfounded or exonerated where appropriate. The board voted to approve OCPO's findings on NI2025‑0534; the motion carried after a roll‑call vote with a majority in favor.

3) DR2025‑083 — a citizen complaint by Noria Jondres alleging that officers threatened arrest when he requested identification, that a Detective Buie mishandled a follow‑up assault investigation, and that Jondres's reasonable‑accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act were ignored. OCPO's preliminary review found that officer Cortinas recorded the contact on body‑worn camera but that Sergeant Barrett did not appear to have his camera activated during a brief interaction when Barrett told witnesses to leave or face arrest. ADA compliance staff at the city reviewed the accommodation allegation and did not find a violation.

After discussion the board voted to open an independent OCPO investigation into DR2025‑083. Board members urged that the absence of a body‑worn camera activation on a supervising officer be examined; several members described that omission as a policy red flag and said an independent investigation was warranted.

Why this matters: OCPO reviews and independent investigations are the board's primary tools for oversight. The July 2023 pursuit case drew particular attention because OCPO found that DPD's vehicle‑pursuit rules were not followed — even while finding the later use of deadly force justified — and recommended a reviewer not involved in the incident evaluate pursuit conduct going forward.

Votes at a glance:
- CN2024002 (officer‑involved shooting, 07/25/2023): Motion to approve OCPO findings — passed unanimously; report and recommendation forwarded to the police chief.
- NI2025‑0534 (complaint by Nariah Williams): Motion to approve OCPO findings — carried by majority vote after roll call (several board members voted no); OCPO's determinations included exonerations and unfounded findings after review of body‑worn video and property‑room records.
- DR2025‑083 (complaint by Noria Jondres): Motion to open an independent OCPO investigation — motion moved and seconded and carried (board voted to launch independent investigation). The OCPO will produce a full investigative report and present findings to the board once complete.

Follow-up and next steps: OCPO will transmit the CN2024002 report and its vehicle‑pursuit review recommendation to Chief Como and requested a departmental response. OCPO will begin the independent investigation into DR2025‑083 and will report progress and findings to the board when the probe is complete.

Ending: The board emphasized that when body‑worn cameras are not activated during officer‑public interactions it raises oversight concerns and may prompt additional review and recommended discipline where policy requires. OCPO staff and board members said they would continue to follow up with DPD on pursuit‑policy compliance and body‑worn camera activation.