DALLAS — A white Dallas police officer is on administrative leave as the department investigates allegations that he made and tried to sell a challenge coin the Black Police Association decried as racist.
Police did not release the name of the officer who created the coin, which was made for the South Central Patrol Division. It is unclear when the coin was designed. Chief Eddie García said at a news conference Wednesday the officers’ actions stained the department. He apologized to the community. Police have said southern Dallas is a priority, something they reiterated after two mass shootings there this spring.
“I’m not having it,” García said about the coin. “It’s not gonna continue on my watch. We have a standard at the Dallas Police Department. I will not allow an individual to stain that and to tarnish our badge and what we’re doing.
