A curious thing happened last year as worried Dallas voters passed a charter amendment pushing for the hiring of more police officers. The city’s violent crime rate dropped.

And not by just a little. According to year-end data briefed before a Dallas City Council committee this week, overall violent crime in 2024 was down 8.26% from 2023. Murders decreased 26.2%.

That’s an astounding improvement from the year before, when killings were up nearly 15%.So why do so many people in Dallas still feel unsafe?

Dallas voters in November approved Proposition U requiring, in part, that the city spend half of its excess revenue maintaining a police force of at least 4,000 — an increase of around 900 officers. Dallas Hero, the nonprofit that backed the proposition, cited violent crime. Police and city officials understandably balked, pointing to fiscal constraints and challenges recruiting officers.

Public perceptions about crime can’t be brushed aside. The city must do a better job of making all residents feel safe, even those who are victims of low-level crimes. For example, scarce traffic enforcement leaves Dallasites across the city feeling vulnerable.

But our police department has done a remarkable job with violent crime, which has steadily dropped in Dallas in the last three years since police implemented their Violent Crime Reduction Plan. The data-driven approach targets high-crime areas called hot spots, identifying apartment complexes and other places repeatedly at the center of crime. The plan’s “focused deterrence” element identifies particular criminal suspects or potential criminals and offers them pathways to better lives.

This grid approach has paid off again in 2024, according to data top brass delivered to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee this week. In addition to murders, aggravated assaults decreased 7.7% and personal robberies were down 5%. The only significant increase in violent crime was in business robberies, which rose 4%.

Dallas police are particularly proud of their focused deterrence efforts, which include other agencies and nonprofits. Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot told us that members of his staff are “part of the team that knocks on doors and engages with these individuals and their families and pairs them with services that reduce the likelihood of them committing violent crimes.” That’s the kind of grassroots crime-fighting measure that makes a difference.

Also during the crime briefing, city staff members indicated that, based on their review of recent budget allocations, they are “confident that these investments align with the priorities of City of Dallas residents as expressed in the November election,” according to a memo.

Dallas Hero apparently disagrees; the next day it sent a letter to the city demanding compliance with Proposition U.

With those battle lines drawn, we’ll watch for a fight to play out at City Hall in coming weeks and months. Dallas must address the concerns of residents all over the city, not just in high-crime areas. The main challenge of our next police chief will be maintaining the decline in violent crime while improving police visibility across the city.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is exploring options for a new head coach following the departure of Mike McCarthy, and one name generating buzz is franchise legend Jason Witten. Known as the best tight end in Cowboys history, Witten has long been a favorite of Jones and is being considered for the high-profile role.

McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways after five seasons, ending a tenure that included three consecutive 12-5 records but just one playoff win. The coaching search is officially underway, and Witten’s name has surfaced alongside other contenders.

Witten, an 11-time Pro Bowler and the franchise leader in games starts, receptions, and receiving yards, has deep ties to Dallas. While his coaching experience is limited to leading a private high school team to a state championship, his leadership qualities and familiarity with the organization make him a compelling, albeit unconventional, option.

If hired, Witten would follow a path similar to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, another former Cowboys tight end. Campbell transitioned to the NFL coaching ranks after years of assistant coaching experience, a step Witten has yet to take. However, Jones has a history of making bold decisions, and Witten’s intimate understanding of the Cowboys’ culture could give him an edge.

While some question whether Witten’s high school coaching background is sufficient preparation for the NFL, Jones values loyalty and passion for the franchise, qualities Witten embodies. His connection with the Cowboys and leadership on and off the field could make him an intriguing choice to guide the team into its next chapter.

Jones’ next coach will be his ninth. The first four were first-time NFL head coaches, starting with Jimmy Johnson when Jones bought the team in 1989. The former University of Miami coach won back-to-back Super Bowls before an acrimonious split with Jones, his college teammate at Arkansas.

Three of Jones’ past four hires had NFL head coaching experience, including Super Bowl winners Bill Parcells and McCarthy. The exception was former Dallas quarterback Jason Garrett, the longest-tenured coach under Jones at nine-plus seasons.

The Cowboys have yet to release updates on the search, but Jason Witten remains a name to watch as the process unfolds.

About four minutes into the Dallas Mavericks’ recent contest against the Denver Nuggets, starting center Dereck Lively left the contest with an ankle injury.

Evidently, the Mavericks are already dealing with massive injuries to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Those two superstars lead the team and Lively is right up there as one of the more impactful players on the team.

However, just one day after the injury, Lively has already gotten X-ray updates back on his sprained right ankle, and it’s a bit of a relief for Mavericks fans. Chris Haynes provided the recent update.

“Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II received an X-ray on his sprained right ankle and results were negative. No timeline established as of now,” Haynes reported.

The Mavericks are struggling to stay healthy, though doing so by April is the main goal and it’s just January. Lively has had issues remaining on the hardwood for the club in his inaugural two seasons, and it’s leaving some fans concerned.

READ MORE: Latest Timeline for Luka Doncic’s Return to Dallas Mavericks Revealed

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