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Dallas, TX
Dallas Fire-Rescue’s new chief Justin Ball is familiar face in the department
Justin Ball, a nearly 30-year veteran of Dallas Fire-Rescue who has served in every rank, including interim chief for nearly a year, has been named the fire department’s new chief, city officials announced Thursday.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, who made the final selection, praised Ball’s leadership and vision for the department’s future. Her announcement concludes a search that drew more than 30 applicants.
“Chief Ball has a demonstrated track record of strong leadership,” Tolbert said in a news release Thursday afternoon. “He has brought fresh ideas to solve problems and seized on innovative opportunities to take this internationally recognized department to the next level.”
Ball will assume the role on April 23 as the city’s 18th fire chief, leading one of its largest departments. Dallas Fire-Rescue operates with a $430 million budget and more than 2,000 personnel, including firefighters, emergency medical responders and civilian staff.
The search for a new Dallas Fire-Rescue chief ran parallel to the city’s ongoing effort to hire a new police chief — though it began later and wrapped up sooner than that effort.
Four finalists were ultimately selected and invited to Dallas City Hall last week for a public meet-and-greet, as well as interviews with City Council members and other stakeholders.
Ball, 54, was widely seen as a strong contender for the job, having served as interim chief since last June, when former chief Dominique Artis was promoted to a newly created public safety role overseeing the city’s police, fire, municipal courts and emergency services.
Leaders with the department’s fire associations had voiced support for Ball before the final selection. Lt. Jeff Patterson, president of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, the largest of the associations, praised the news of the final selection.
“We are excited to continue working with him as we move the department forward,” Patterson said in a message to The Dallas Morning News. “We are happy to have been included in the process and appreciate City Manager Tolbert for asking for our input.”
Ball is an England native who immigrated to Dallas more than three decades ago. He began his career with what was then called the Dallas Fire Department in 1997 and has since risen through the ranks, most recently serving as executive assistant chief of operations.
Last week, during the meet and greet, Ball touted his many years with Dallas Fire-Rescue, saying the department had been “good to me” and expressing an intent to give back to the department.
“It’s an incredible honor to have been selected as the permanent chief to lead the brave men and women with whom I have the pleasure of working with each day,” Ball said in the release. “I look forward to building on our positive momentum, focusing on the safety and wellness of our members and continuing to deliver the best service to this community.”
The police and fire chief searches were conducted with the help of Public Sector Search and Consulting, a California-based firm retained by the city that recruits public safety executives.
The three other finalists were Todd Alt, an assistant chief with Tampa Fire Rescue in Florida; Raymond Hill, executive assistant chief with the Fort Worth Fire Department; and Samuel Peña, former chief of the Houston Fire Department.
DALLAS – Dallas police need a name for a dangerous robber who pulled a gun on a 7-Eleven clerk and walked out with the cash register drawer.
He was caught on camera. But it’s been six months, and he’s still at large.
7-Eleven Robberies
What we know:
The robbery in question happened on Jan. 13 around 10:30 p.m. at the store at 302 North Marsalis Avenue.
A Black male who is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 170 to 180 pounds walked in and waited until no other customers were inside.
“After it’s empty, he displays a handgun and points it at the cashier,” said Det. Eduardo Lopez Villa. “I don’t know what he said. He just demanded the cash from the cash register.”
Det. Villa said the suspect took the whole cash register drawer before fleeing eastbound on foot on 8th Street.
What you can do:
The detective believes anyone who knows the suspect will be able to recognize him.
“Yes, most definitely based on the video and the screenshot. If you know him, you’ll recognize him,” he said.
Tipsters can call or text Det. Villa at 469-755-8445.
“I need his information so I can talk to him about this incident,” he said.
FOX 4’s Trackdown
You can watch Shaun Rabb’s Trackdown series every Wednesday on FOX 4. Episodes are also posted weekly online, on YouTube and on FOX Local.
FOX 4 viewers have now helped to make 220 arrests.
The Source: The information in this story comes from Dallas Police Det. Eduardo Lopez Villa.
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
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