LOCAL : Rathburn to Head Dallas Police
The Los Angeles deputy police chief was selected today as the new Dallas police chief, replacing a man fired after he was indicted on a charge of perjury.
Deputy Chief William Rathburn was among more than 100 candidates who applied for the job after the September firing of Chief Mack Vines by City Manager Jan Hart. Vines was indicted for allegedly lying to a special panel investigating a police shooting.
Rathburn was chief of security for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
City Council member Glenn Box praised Rathburn for his experience working with “the gang problems out in Los Angeles, so he brings a lot of unique experience to Dallas, and I think he’ll do an excellent job.”
Minorities criticized Vines’ dismissal, saying his enemies within the Police Department set him up because he supported affirmative action and cracked down on the use of deadly force. Both Vines and Rathburn are white.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
