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Dallas launches mediation pilot to resolve minor misconduct complaints between residents and officers
Summary
The Office of Community Police Oversight, in partnership with the Dallas Police Department's Internal Affairs Division, briefed the board on a mediation program intended to resolve minor misconduct complaints through voluntary, confidential dialogue guided by trained mediators.
The City of Dallas Office of Community Police Oversight (OCPO) and the Dallas Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division presented a joint plan June 10 to launch an inaugural mediation program aimed at resolving minor misconduct complaints through voluntary, confidential dialogue instead of formal administrative discipline.
Why it matters: The program is intended to give complainants and officers a structured place to discuss low-level incidents, potentially shortening conflict-driven administrative processes and restoring trust where appropriate.
What the program will do: OCPO policy analyst Sierra Obasuie said the program is authorized under Dallas City Code, Article 3, Chapter 37, section 37-32.2, and is designed as a voluntary, confidential, two-hour session led by a neutral contracted mediator. Sessions will be scheduled within 30 days of approval and — under proposed enhancements — the waiting period between requests would be shortened from six months to 90 days (pending a code amendment). The office plans two pilot mediations before year end.
Key operational points presented to the board: - Eligibility: Minor misconduct complaints only; no active criminal proceedings or pending civil litigation. - Confidentiality: Mediation discussions are protected; statements are not admissible in court and mediators/staff are not subject to subpoena under the cited city code language. - Process: Mediations will be facilitated by trained, impartial contracted mediators in neutral public locations (libraries or recreation centers). Sessions will last up to two hours. - Incentives and supports: Officers who complete a mediation would receive a notation of accommodation and two hours of paid overtime; both parties may bring a representative who will remain outside the mediation room if the parties wish support.
Officials said the program fills a gap: "To me, the thing that has me more excited than all the things we've done so far is this project," Major Grier of DPD said, noting the city had an ordinance for mediation for years but had never completed a single mediation. "If we can get one, I'd count that as a win," he told the board.
Board questions and next steps: Board members asked about outreach to rank-and-file officers and sourcing mediators. Staff said they expect to contract mediators and will seek buy-in from police associations, legal groups and community organizations; they also proposed two pilot mediations before the end of the year to test operations. OCPO and IAD will return to the board with updates and evaluation results, including participant feedback.
What they did not decide: The board took no formal vote on program adoption at the June 10 meeting. Staff requested input and signaled the program's procedural changes (90-day waiting period, paid overtime for officers) will require internal adjustments and, in some cases, ordinance adjustments.
Ending note: Officials characterized the program as an early, collaborative step toward restoring or strengthening trust between officers and community members for lower-level complaints and said they would seek broad stakeholder input before any full rollout.
