The city of Dallas named five finalists to become the next police chief for a department of just over 3,100 officers.

The list includes finalists with experience in local and federal law enforcement, but who all started their careers with a police department at a city level.

Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert said a list of 25 candidates was reduced to the following five finalists:

Interim DPD Chief Michael Igo; DPD Assistant Chief Catrina Shead; Carrollton Chief of Police Roberto Arredondo; Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of Houston; and former FBI Assistant Director Brian Boetig.

The next chief will inherit a department that has seen the violent crime rate fall each year since 2021 but also will be tasked with adding officers after voters last November approved a measure requiring DPD to hire about 900 officers to reach 4,000 officers.

Rene Martinez with LULAC served on the community panel tasked with questioning finalists during the search for a police chief in 2020, a process that yielded the hiring of Eddie Garcia.

“Those shoes are going to be hard to fill but going out into the community, being able to speak to different communities,” Martinez said. “I’m looking at someone that’s going to hopefully have the ability to deal with a diverse community.”

The city said Friday the five finalists will be in Dallas between Monday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 2, meeting with community members before interviewing with City Manager Kim Tolbert.

Tolbert said she plans to make a hiring decision for the city’s next police chief by the second week of April.

Biographies for each of the five DPD chief of police finalists are available ahead of the planned community meet and greets.

The Tennessee Titans parted ways with linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. to begin the offseason, trading him to the Dallas Cowboys.

He was a potential cut candidate, making the trade not too much of a shock. Still, Murray Jr. admitted he was “extremely” surprised by the move.

“I’m not gonna lie, it was extremely surprising for me, just because I wasn’t expecting it,” Murray Jr. said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “… At the same time, I was ecstatic because obviously playing for the Dallas Cowboys is a big deal. I’m excited to be able to come here, bring my brand of football and just fly around and make plays.”

The former first-round pick spent the first four years of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers before signing a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the Titans.

He will now join a Cowboys defense that features star linebacker Micah Parsons, cornerbacks DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and more.

It’s a bit of a dream come true for Murray Jr. A former Oklahoma Sooners star and Houston area native, he grew up a Cowboys fan in Texas.

“I’ve always loved the Cowboys,” Murray Jr. said. “I grew up a Cowboys fan. My whole family are Cowboys fans. So this is definitely a dream for me playing here.”

Murray Jr. wasn’t the only defender to arrive to Dallas via trade this offseason. The Cowboys also acquired former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam from the Buffalo Bills.

Murray Jr. will head into his sixth NFL season with 67 starts across 73 career games while posting 416 total tackles (271 solo), 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. He started all 14 games he appeared in for the Titans this past season.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Taylor Toynes says he started thinking of ways to honor the life of Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks in the immediate weeks following his death.

“It’s important that people can come in and sit down with what took place but also see hope,” Toynes said.

The founder of ‘For Oak Cliff’ said fundraising efforts started earlier this year for a memorial park at the nonprofit’s location at 907 E. Ledbetter Drive.

“I think it’s important for it to be here because of the events that happened here,” Toynes said.

Burks was parked at ‘For Oak Cliff,’ completing work in his patrol car and waiting for his next assignment when the rookie officer was ambushed by a suspect in August 2024.

Two other Dallas PD officers were shot by the suspect responding to the scene. Both survived but Sr. Cpl. Karissa David was left blind in both eyes.

Burks worked as a teacher for 17 years before changing careers and entering law enforcement in his early 40’s.

Toynes says the memorial park will honor his life as an educator, athlete and public servant with spaces for play, reflection and artwork.

“It’s not just something that people walk up to and see but it’s also something that people can interact with and have fun and learn and build community at the same time,” Toynes said.

Toynes said ‘For Oak Cliff’ did not move forward with the project until it had support from both Burks’ mother and the Dallas Police Department.

Dallas PD said Thursday in a statement Burks’ unwavering commitment to serving and protecting the city made a lasting impact.

“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 spokesperson said.

“We are honored to see Officer Burks’ memory live on through the legacy he left behind.”

Toynes said he estimates the project will be completed in three phases and will cost upwards of $300,000 to complete.

“I have faith in the city of Dallas and the philanthropic community here,” Toynes said.

The fundraising effort is ongoing through the Community Foundations of Texas and the North Texas Giving Day campaign.