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Memorial park to honor fallen Dallas police officer Darron Burks ‘in the city he loved’

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Memorial park to honor fallen Dallas police officer Darron Burks ‘in the city he loved’


Taylor Toynes had just tucked his son into bed on Aug. 29, 2024, when he was rushed back to For Oak Cliff to find tragedy had struck on its doorstep.

While sitting in his patrol car, parked in the center’s lot, Dallas police officer Darron Burks, 46, was fatally shot in a brazen attack that wounded two other officers and scarred southeast Oak Cliff.

Killing of Dallas police officer took place in a safe, almost sacred space, in Oak Cliff

For weeks, Toynes watched as the haven he founded to be a beacon of hope for the community became a makeshift memorial instead. Hundreds of people came and went — to light candles and tie balloons, to reminisce and reflect, to question God and to pray.

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Almost immediately, Toynes recalled, his perspective shifted.

Let me shine a light, he thought. Let me teach you something.

Alex Cooper (facing) and
Tyrone Gonzales, who were fraternity brothers of Dallas police...
Alex Cooper (facing) and
Tyrone Gonzales, who were fraternity brothers of Dallas police Officer Darron Burks, hug during a vigil at For Oak Cliff on Aug. 30, 2024.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

“We know it’s the tragedy of death we’re dealing with,” Toynes said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News earlier this month. “But we also recognize that this is someone who needs to be honored for their spirit and their courage.”

And so came the vision for the nonprofit’s next project: The Darron Burks Memorial Park.

Their highest hopes, aligned

Long before Burks joined the Dallas Police Department, he was a student at Paul Quinn College, where he was a football player and president of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was described as a “pure man” who never smoked, drank or cursed, and checked in on his friends daily.

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For 17 years, Burks was a math teacher at Texans CAN Academies, a charter school that helps students recover credits to graduate.

In 2023, he brought the leadership skills he honed in the classroom to the police academy, where he helped corral the younger officers and keep them in line. They nicknamed him “Papa Burks.”

Taylor Toynes, CEO of For Oak Cliff, is instrumental in taking the pain of the tragic death of DPD officer Darron Burks and turning it into a living memorial that will keep Burks’ memory and story alive to be shared with generations to come. The CEO of For Oak Cliff, along with his staff and Burks’ mother, are coordinating plans and raising funds for a memorial garden and playground to be constructed at the site the DPD officer lost his life while on duty on August 29, 2024. Toynes was interviewed at his office at For Oak Cliff in Dallas on March 13, 2025. (Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)

The challenge for For Oak Cliff wasn’t whether they wanted to memorialize Burks, but how they possibly could.

Toynes considered a traditional monument, but worried something so modest might allow Burks’ legacy to become synonymous with the tragedy that cut his life short.

Instead, his staff hopes to honor every part of Burks’ journey.

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For the people Darron Burks left behind, a renewed vigor for public service

After drafting some ideas of their own, Amber Hartfield, For Oak Cliff’s director of operations, said her team met first with Burks’ mother, Cherie Jeffery, to get both her input and her blessing. They found her dreams for a permanent memorial aligned almost “word for word” with their own.

“She loved every bit of it, and she was really grateful that the community is coming together to do something like this for her son,” Hartfield said.

Taylor Toynes (right), CEO of For Oak Cliff, shares details of construction plans as chief...
Taylor Toynes (right), CEO of For Oak Cliff, shares details of construction plans as chief strategy officer Xavier Henderson (center) and director of operations Amber Hartfield listen during an interview which was held at the For Oak Cliff office in Dallas. The trio are planning a memorial for DPD officer Darron Burks.(Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)

Ideally, the park, which will sit on For Oak Cliff’s property, will include an outdoor classroom, a playground and fitness equipment featuring educational quotes and words of encouragement, a garden with seating and a memorial plaque, and a mural symbolizing Burks’ faith, leadership and love for his community.

“To pull up and see people out there playing, sitting together, reflecting, whatever it is, I think that’s it,” Toynes said. “That is joy. That is living.”

Cherie Jeffery speaks during funeral services for her son, Dallas police officer Darron...
Cherie Jeffery speaks during funeral services for her son, Dallas police officer Darron Burks, at Watermark Community Church on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Dallas. Burks was shot and killed in Oak Cliff on Aug. 29.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Jeffery, according to Hartfield, was especially adamant about pursuing the garden, yearning for a space designed to bring families together, an ode to the bond she shared with her son.

“We really want to honor all of her wishes,” Hartfield said. “We want to do our best to make all of it come true.”

Park to be built in phases

Hartfield and Toynes said a partnership with Leadership Dallas has been instrumental in connecting them with organizations, fundraising campaigns and pro bono services that will help them see the park through.

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”Officer Burks’ legacy will forever remain etched in the heart of the city he loved, and he will always be remembered as a true hero,” a Dallas police spokeswoman wrote in a statement sent to The News. “We are honored to see Officer Burks’ memory live on.”

They’re still in the early stages of crafting designs, but anticipate it could take anywhere from $275,000 to $500,000 to complete the project.

Taylor Toynes, CEO of For Oak Cliff, points out plans for a memorial garden and playground...
Taylor Toynes, CEO of For Oak Cliff, points out plans for a memorial garden and playground to be constructed at For Oak Cliff, where DPD officer Darron Burks was killed in the line of duty on August 29, 2024.(Steve Hamm / Special Contributor)

It’s too soon to grasp the timeline, but Hartfield said the park will be built in phases as the money is raised.

For Burks’ mother, they’ll start with the garden.

To donate or sponsor a portion of the park, the North Texas Giving Day fundraiser can be accessed here.

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Dallas, TX

Cowboys draft polls: 5 draft questions for Dallas on Day 2

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Cowboys draft polls: 5 draft questions for Dallas on Day 2


This week, we present five newly crafted draft-related questions, all obviously focused on the Dallas Cowboys. Specifically, these questions will center around the team’s options on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, asking how their strategy should work and potential impact that could have on the season. Cast your vote on each and leave your opinions in the comment section.

Which position should be the top priority for Dallas in the second round of the NFL draft? (Their first pick was CB Will Johnson in this hypothetical)

We come in fast and ask you what position the Cowboys should prioritize if they were to take a cornerback in the first round of the draft. Defensive back is still a primary need and taking a high-flying cornerback like Will Johnson would transform the secondary. But what would be the next position to target after that?

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Which position should be the top priority for Dallas in the second round of the NFL Draft?

Which potential Day 2 running back would be the best fit for the Cowboys?

Day 2 is the sweet spot with plenty of options at the running back position. The Cowboys have signed two running backs to the roster but both carry question marks as to their production. If Dallas went out and targeted a running back on Day 2, who would you want it to be?

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Which potential Day 2 running back would be the best fit for the Cowboys?

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    TreVeyon Henderson

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    Quinshon Judkins

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    Cameron Skattebo

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    Ollie Gordon II

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0 votes total

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Which second-round prospect should the Cowboys target to improve their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Switching to the defense, there are great options for Dallas to target in Day 2 of the draft. Whether it’s defensive back, a run-stuffing defensive tackle. or linebacker, there are some great prospects to choose from that carry great value. But who would you want to take on Day 2 to bolster the defense?

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Poll

Which second round prospect should the Cowboys target to improve their defense in the Draft?

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    DL Darius Alexander

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    DT Alfred Collins

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    DE Landon Jackson

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    LB Carson Schwesinger

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    DE J.T. Tuimoloau

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    DE Princely Umanmielen

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0 votes total

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Which Round 3 wide receiver would be the best fit for the Cowboys?

The wide receiver talent depth is not what we are usually accustomed to from previous seasons. But if Dallas waited until the third round to take a shiny new pass catcher, which prospect would be the best fit?

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Which Round 3 wide receiver would be the best fit for the Cowboys?

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    Xavier Restrepo

    (0 votes)

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    Savion Williams

    (0 votes)



0 votes total

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Which Day 2 offensive lineman would give the Cowboys the biggest immediate impact?

Offensive line is still an obvious area of the roster that needs improving. Dallas may look to go BPA in the first round or land an unexpected talent that falls to pick 12. That means waiting till Day 2 to find the next offensive line upgrade. If that was the case, who’s your pet cat to fill the offensive line needs in the second or third round?

Poll

Which Day 2 offensive lineman would give the Cowboys the biggest immediate impact?

  • 0%
    Jonah Savaiinaea

    (0 votes)

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    Cameron Williams

    (0 votes)



0 votes total

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Suspect arrested in brazen Dallas attack on bride-to-be

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Suspect arrested in brazen Dallas attack on bride-to-be


A man has been arrested in connection with a brazen attack on a bride-to-be.

Dallas police say Trevon Woodards, 27, was arrested in Bedford on Friday.

He faces an aggravated assault charge for alleged attacks near Gaston and Good Latimer near Deep Ellum.

Woodards is accused of punching Canada Rinaldi, 27, in the face as she and a group of friends walked toward their Uber on Floyd Street just before 2 a.m. Sunday.

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Rinaldi was in town from Oklahoma for a bachelorette trip. She’s getting married in April.

Rinaldi suffered a broken nose, three broken teeth and needed stitches in her forehead.

One of the bridesmaids, Kelly Peralta, says she was also struck by the suspect when she tried to help Rinaldi.

Peralta suffered a black eye and swelling.

Woodards was identified by police on Friday afternoon, hours before his arrest.

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“It’s really relieving,” said Rinaldi.

Stephanie Keller Hudiburg is executive director of the Deep Ellum Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes public safety in the area.

“It’s a community that has a very passionate response to safety and cares deeply. We have a community safety plan for that reason,” said Keller Hudiburg.

The Deep Ellum Community Safety Plan includes a SeeSay app where the public can report a variety of issues and problems. Keller Hudiburg says the Foundation also has security working around the clock, along with more than 100 security cameras in and around Deep Ellum.

“We are grateful,” Keller Hudiburg told NBC 5 in response to the arrest.

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Three photos of Woodards released by Dallas police Friday show him on a DART platform, a police body camera image of Woodards during an interaction with him at Target on March 21, and a mugshot of Woodards from February after he violated probation on a previous assault charge. It was recommended that he spend 10 days in jail.

“I don’t think that he’s an awful person; I think that he just needs help,” said Rinaldi. “I think he still has to pay the price for what he did.”



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Neiman Marcus owner reaches last-minute deal to keep landmark Dallas store open

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Neiman Marcus owner reaches last-minute deal to keep landmark Dallas store open


The Neiman Marcus store in Dallas on Friday got a last-minute reprieve from having to close its doors for good in a deal aimed to buy the city more time to “reimagine” a new future for the retailer’s landmark building.

City officials and the retailer’s owner, Saks Global, announced on Friday that the department store will remain open until the end of the year — instead of closing on Monday.

The agreement caps off more than a month of testy public statements by both sides over a bizarre lease dispute concerning a sliver of the building — which houses the original store– under the down escalator of the nine-story building.

The century-old Neiman Marcus store is considered a retail icon in Dallas. LARRY W SMITH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Barbs were exchanged for weeks and even press conferences were held outside the store by the Dallas Consortium, a group tasked with keeping the store open, which accused Saks Global of lying about its stated reason for closing the beloved department store and of unfairly taking a portrait of the store’s founder, Stanley Marcus, to NYC.

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Terms of the deal, including any tax incentives the city may have offered, were not announced. But the idea is to “reimagine” the store and put the space to other uses.

The talks come as city officials are looking to revive the downtown area, of which the historic retail icon is considered an anchor.

Store employees learned that their jobs were saved – at least temporarily – this morning at a store-wide meeting, The Post has learned.

Richard Baker, chairman of Saks Global, attended a crucial meeting in Dallas on March 24. Getty Images for HBC Foundation

The about-face comes after a group of Saks Global executives, including executive chairman, Richard Baker, met with Dallas officials in the city on March 24 to discuss a contentious lease that was the stated reason for the store closing.

The agreement buys Neiman Marcus and its popular Zodiac Room restaurant more time, but it’s unclear what will happen at the end of the year when the store is expected to close, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.

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Between now and then, city officials and Saks Global will discuss potential concepts for the space, including a “luxury retail experience, a curated art exhibition, and a fashion and event center,” according to the statement. The proposals also include “an incubator for fashion design and manufacturing in Downtown Dallas.”

Marc Metrick is the chief executive of Saks Global, which acquired Neiman Marcus in a $2.6 billion deal in December. Getty Images

“As we explore opportunities for the Downtown store, along with a planned renovation at the [nearby] NorthPark store, we will evaluate the opportunity to utilize both locations to serve different customer needs in the Dallas market,”  Marc Metrick, chief executive of Saks Global said in a statement. 

The building is owned by Saks Global and several other landlords who own smaller portions of the ground lease. One of those landlords, Slaughter Partners, owns a 2,500-square of land under the escalator.

That landlord had terminated Saks Global’s lease, sparking the store closure announcement in February.

Dallas officials held press conferences outside the store in an effort to pressure Saks Global to keep the store open. LARRY W SMITH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Dallas store is considered a linchpin to the city’s revitalization plan. LARRY W SMITH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

But Slaughter reportedly donated its portion of the building last month to the city of Dallas to keep the store open.

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At the time Saks Global, which acquired Neiman Marcus in a $2.65 billion deal in December contended that it had “not received any documentation regarding an agreement between Slaughter Partners and the City of Dallas, and how this new agreement would affect the property, its other owners  and the store’s ability to operate.”

“We are excited that Saks Global has decided to keep Neiman Marcus open downtown, as we explore the opportunity to unlock the potential to transform downtown into an international beacon and economic engine for fashion – just as the Neiman Marcus founders intended when they opened the store more than 100 years ago,” Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a statement. “We look forward to exploring what‘s on the horizon and are committed to continuing our conversations with the Saks Global team.” 



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