U. Reneé Hall, the police chief in Dallas, announced her resignation on Tuesday amid backlash over her department’s handling of protests over the policing of African-Americans.
Hall is the first woman to lead the Dallas department and has held the position since 2017.
“These past three years have been saturated with a series of unimaginable events that individually and collectively have never happened in the City of Dallas,” Hall wrote. “I am proud that this department has not only coped with an unthinkable series of events, but we also managed to implement critical reforms.”
The Dallas Police Department has been heavily criticized for its use of force during protests at the end of May and start of June. Police officers used pepper-ball launchers against peaceful protestors, which led to a federal judge later temporarily banning the city of Dallas from using tear gas and other less-lethal weapons against peaceful gatherings.
Hall at first denied tear gas had been used, but later admitted that it had.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax accepted Hall’s resignation letter, which initially stated she would resign effective Nov. 10. Broadnax has asked Hall to stay on until the end of 2020.
“This year has been tumultuous and uncertain. A few more months of her leadership are key for several projects and for a seamless transition within the police department,” Broadnax said in a statement. “In her three years of service, Chief Hall has provided consistent, passionate, resilient and robust leadership to our City. She has implemented a host of reforms that will assist our department as we move forward.”
