Three years in, the Dallas Police Department’s leaders say their plan to reduce violent crime is paying off.
New numbers show overall violence is down more than 19% compared to the three years before the plan started.
Still, after a South Oak Cliff High School student was shot near campus on Monday, some in the community say there’s more work to be done to make Dallas safe.
Minutes before students were dismissed at South Oak Cliff High School, an emergency broke out down the street.
“I heard like four or five gunshots very loud,” said Roberto Arellano, who lives on Overton Avenue.
A Dallas ISD official told NBC 5 that a freshman student was at nearby South Oak Cliff Renaissance Park when she was shot and ran back to campus to seek medical help.
The school held up dismissal while police launched an investigation.
Dallas ISD officials said the victim was not believed to be the target. Dallas police said the student was grazed by a bullet and would survive.
“It weighs very heavy on our hearts, most definitely,” said Carolyn King Arnold, Dallas City Council representative for District 4. “Because we keep seeing the headlines of young people whose lives are being taken at a very, very early age.”
The shooting came three days after Kimball High School senior David Washington was shot and killed in south Dallas, with a 16-year-old now charged with his murder.
On Monday, Dallas police leaders gave an update on the city’s overall state of violent crime.
“All of your usual crime counts are down year to year,” said UTSA professor Dr. Michael Smith, an architect of the city’s violent crime reduction plan.
Dallas Police leaders said violent crime in Dallas was down 19.2% from 2021 to 2024 compared to the three years before.
They said it was the impact of the police department’s violent crime reduction plan, an ongoing effort made up of three phases: Hotspot Policing, a grid system that assigns more officers to high-crime areas in the city; Place Network Investigations, which sends code enforcement and investigators to problem apartment complexes; and Focused Deterrence, which helps get resources to people deemed high risk for violent behavior.
“This crime plan would not work if the men and women of this department did not buy in,” said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia. “They have completely bought in; they’re doing tremendous work.”
The numbers weren’t all positive: data showed the total number of homicides from 2021-24 was up 7% compared to the three years before the plan.
But murders in Dallas this year were down nearly 25% compared to 2023, and police said they hoped to expand this violent crime plan.
“Our hope is that this is going to be a longstanding, that this is going to be in the fiber of the Dallas Police Department where it’s about building stronger communities,” said Garcia.
On Monday, NBC 5 also learned for the first time how much that violent crime plan is costing the City of Dallas: Garcia said police have spent a total of $24 million since 2021 to implement and run the effort.
While many families across North Texas gathered at home for Christmas, firefighters at Dallas Fire Station 27 spent the holiday on duty. As they work to protect the city, they also lean on one another as family.
” I just love being a firefighter, just spending time with my second family here,” Francisco Amaro said.
Amaro is the driver engineer for Engine 27. He’s been a firefighter for more than a decade.
Even on Christmas Day, the station remained fully staffed, with firefighters working long shifts and responding to calls as usual. Though they missed being home with loved ones, the crew created holiday traditions of their own.
“All of us would probably rather be at home with our families on Christmas Day or on Thanksgiving, things like that. But we try to have a good attitude,” Lt. Justin McKinney said.
McKinney has served the City of Dallas for nearly 14 years.
“With us being here, that means the other people that work different shifts, they get to be home with their families,” McKinney said.
Inside the station, the sounds of preparation filled the air as firefighters split wood, fired up a smoker and cooked a holiday meal together.
The menu included familiar favorites like ham, mac and cheese, and sweet potato casserole.
One firefighter made cinnamon rolls from a recipe older than the station itself.
“This is my great-grandmother’s recipe,” Holly said.
“We’re going to smoke some meat out on the smoker,” said McKinney. “We try to make it feel as traditional as possible.”
While most of us were unwrapping gifts and gathering around the table…Some Dallas crews were clocking in at one fire station, where Christmas looks a little different, but is still full of heart and familiar traditions. NBC 5’s Alicia Barrera reports.
For many firefighters, the station has become a second home. Crew members say they spend a significant portion of their lives together, relying on one another both on and off the job.
“It’s like our second family. We spend a third of our lives with these people,” McKinney said.
This Christmas, firefighters also welcomed the ones who support them most, bridging the gap between duty and home.
McKinney said the sacrifices of working holidays can be difficult, but the work remains meaningful.
“I’ve always wanted a job that was kind of bigger than me,” McKinney said. “Being there on somebody’s worst day and being able to hopefully make a difference in somebody’s life, I get a lot of value out of that.”
For some, the distance from home is felt most during the holidays. Firefighter Chad Russ said he asked for a simple Christmas gift this year. He wanted something to remind him of his family while responding to emergency calls.
“It’s just a little insert that goes into our helmet. It kind of helps me remember, stay safe, while I am away from the house, no way I can come back to them,” Russ said.
The insert features a picture of his wife Holly and their two daughters Parker and Spencer.
“When you take it off after a fire,” Russ said, “you can look at it and know you’re going to make it home to them.”
As Christmas came and went, the firefighters of Station 27 remained ready for the next call, supported by tradition, teamwork and the families who help keep them going.
LANDOVER, Md. — Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has made it known that he’ll voice his opinion when it comes to the team’s roster construction next season. He already has some thoughts.
“Find a way to keep a guy like [wide receiver] George [Pickens],” Prescott said after Thursday’s 30-23 road win over the Washington Commanders. “Find a way to keep a guy like [running back] Javonte [Williams].”
Those checklist items have been on the offseason agenda for the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones for quite some time. The value of Pickens and Williams has been discussed a lot over the course of this season. Their place on next year’s roster may not be set — and as we saw this past season, no one’s officially in the Cowboys’ future until a contract says so — but it’s now an expectation.
A new name might’ve joined that tier on Christmas Day.
Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, in the words of head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was dominant in the win over the Commanders. Clowney finished with 1.5 sacks, marking the second time he’s had more than one sack in the last four games. Clowney now is tied with James Houston for the team-lead in sacks this season with 5.5.
“You look up and you saw 42 harassing the quarterback,” Schottenheimer said of Clowney. “You see 42 chasing down [plays].
“I just love the way the guy plays.”
It might be because Clowney, at 32 and in his 12th NFL season, is loving playing — even when there could be a reason not to.
Thursday’s game between the Cowboys and Commanders looked a lot better before the season. The Commanders were in the NFC Championship last season. The Cowboys had aspirations of a turnaround in Schottenheimer’s first season. Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention well before they kicked off at Northwest Stadium.
After Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Clowney was asked how he stays motivated with no path to the postseason. The question baffled Clowney.
“What you mean motivated? They’re paying me,” said Clowney, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September. “That’s enough motivation for me. I like money.”
On Thursday, he put his money where his mouth was. Twelve years ago, when Clowney became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, he was known for his immense physical talent. Today, his best attribute has been his effort. There’s an evident never-quit mentality to his playing style. That’s what helped him finish with 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.
Clowney’s motor this season isn’t only financially driven, however.
Schottenheimer referenced something he heard Clowney tell the younger players earlier this week as they prepared to play without any playoff hope. Clowney’s message, according to Schottenheimer, was about perspective: being appreciative of how blessed they are to play in the NFL, even if it’s a game that can’t get them toward the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. Clowney told them to never take it for granted.
That stuck out to Schottenheimer, who’s known Clowney since their time together with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
“When he was a younger player — he can speak to this — not that he took it for granted, but he appreciates [the game] so much more now,” Schottenheimer said.
Clowney spoke to that appreciation, too.
“A lot,” Clowney said when he was asked how much fun he’s having this season. “It’s football, man. Not everybody can do it. It’s a blessing for me to still be playing 12 years. I thank God every day for that. I have a lot of fun doing it. If I could have fun doing something else I probably would, but I have so much fun doing this I look forward to Sundays, and big games, and the spotlight, and the cameras and all that … I think it brings the best out of me.”
That’s as evident as it is contagious. Prescott said he could feel Clowney’s love for the game. Prescott said he’s seen it since the Cowboys signed Clowney on Sept. 14. He believes they’re better off with Clowney on their team moving forward.
“We’re fortunate to have him,” Prescott said. “He’s one of those guys that we’ve got to figure out a way to keep.”
Good news for the Cowboys: Clowney said he’d be interested in returning to play for Dallas if they were willing to bring him back.
“I’ve got a lot left in the tank,” Clowney said. “I’m not going to go sit on my couch. I’m going to stay ready.”
Clowney even said that he’s hoping to go to training camp, which is something he didn’t do this past year. There was excitement in his voice as he talked about shaking off rust before the season, rather than ramping up like he did this year. As the season has gone on, he’s shown why he might be deserving of that chance.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
The 2025 season has been filled with plenty of ups and downs for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year, but Dallas will ultimately miss the playoffs for the second-straight season.
While the two games left in the regular season don’t mean anything in terms of standings, there are plenty of players on Dallas’ current roster who could be playing their final two games as a Cowboy. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two impact players who could be suiting up as Cowboys for the final two times in the coming weeks.
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There is no denying that Cowboys’ running back Javonte Williams has had an outstanding 2025 campaign. After a breakout rookie year in 2021, Williams suffered major injuries, including a torn ACL in 2022, and many believed he would never reach his top form again.
Dallas took a chance on the 25-year-old running back, signing him to a one-year deal in hopes that he still had some juice left in the tank. The move turned out to be one of Dallas’ best of the offseason, as Williams has put together a career year in his fifth season in the league.
On the year, Williams is fourth in the NFL in first downs rushing, sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,147), tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (10) to go with a career-high 56.1% Rushing Success Rate. Williams has slowed down considerably in the second half of the season, averaging just 4.2 Y/A over his last four games. Still, those shortcomings are more a product of the recent struggles of Dallas’s offensive line, which has been a very inconsistent unit over the past four to five weeks.
Williams has been a diamond in the rough find for Dallas’ front office, but his outstanding 2025 campaign could price him out of a return to the Cowboys. While the 2026 free agent running back market does include some capable players (Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker), Williams will still be a hot commodity for running back-needy teams.
At just 25-years-old, at least one team will likely be willing to offer Williams a multi-year contract. Spotrac projects the running back to earn a three-year, $22M deal on the open market. While $7M a year isn’t a huge number, with all of Dallas’ needs to address elsewhere on the roster, it seems unlikely they would seriously consider bringing Williams back to Dallas at that number.
If Williams has found a home in Dallas and is willing to take a more modest number to remain here, he may stay. If he’s looking to cash in on his career-changing year, which he almost certainly will be, there’s a very good chance he’s about to play his final two games as a Cowboy.
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When the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark back at the beginning of September, the 30-year-old veteran had big shoes to fill. While no one expected Clark to replicate Micah Parsons’ production on Dallas’ defense, Clark filled a big need the Cowboys had at defensive tackle and figured to be a guy who could make a significant impact right away.
With how bad the Cowboys’ defense has been as a whole, Clark’s season has gone a bit unnoticed, but the 10-year veteran has had a very productive year. When Dallas acquired Clark, they knew he would be solid against the run, but questions remained about whether he had anything left in the tank as a pass rusher. Surprisingly, Clark has turned back the clock a bit this year and has been a more than adequate pass-rushing defensive tackle.
In 15 games, Clark has recorded 43 total pressures, 33 QB Hurries, and four sacks, via Pro Football Focus. With two more games to add to these totals, Clark will likely finish with the second-most pressures, hurries, and sacks in his last four seasons. While the totals aren’t close to his star-studded 2023 campaign, they are still impressive for a veteran interior defensive linemen.
Clark has had a more than acceptable first season in Dallas, but his long-term future as a Cowboy is anything but certain. With the Cowboys acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, there’s a chance Dallas will not be able to afford to keep Clark, Williams, and 27-year-old Osa Odighizuwa all on their roster in 2026.
Of those three, Clark is the most obvious choice if Dallas is going to cut ties with one of the defensive tackles. The way Clark’s contract is structured, the Cowboys can get out of the deal this offseason with no penalty. If Dallas were to cut Clark (pre or post June 1), they would incur no dead money and save $21M against the cap this year and $20M in 2027.
As mentioned above, the Cowboys have so many other needs to address on their roster this offseason, keeping Clark at a $21.5M cap number just does not feel like a realistic option. Dallas could restructure the veteran’s contract to lower his 2026 cap number and keep him as a Cowboy for the remainder of his deal, but the more likely scenario seems to be Dallas releasing him at some point next summer.
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