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Articles By Bob Gorsky REFLECTIONS ON THE DALLAS POLICE MEMORIAL Watching the Dallas Police Department Memorial Day service on May 16TH gave me a chance to reflect on the memorial and the years leading up to its dedication. The concept of a police memorial dates back to at least 1981 when Jess Lucio, who at that time was a DPA director, was moved by the lack of a meaningful remembrance of those who have given their lives for the city. At that time the only reminder of those who had died in the line of duty was a list of names posted on a board outside the police chief’s office. Jess and DPA Vice-President Don Flusche, Sr. pitched the idea of a police memorial to Mayor Jack Evans, who thought it was a great idea. While sitting in Mayor Evans’ office, Jess Lucio pointed to a parcel of land at the Marilla, Akard and Young “triangle”, and which could be seen out Mayor Evans’ window as the perfect site. The first organizational effort stalled but a renewed effort in mid 90’s led by former Dallas Police Chief Billy Prince and supported by officers, citizens, charitable fundraisers, and business leaders led to a fundraising drive which raised over a million dollars for the project. Among the major donors were Trinity Industries, TXU, The Belo Foundation, Hillcrest Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation and The Dallas Foundation. I was honored to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Police Foundation, the charitable entity which built the memorial. In addition to Billy Prince, other active trustees were Messers. Lee Drain, Dan Davis, Pete Schenkel, Kevin King, and Comer Cottrell. Support and advice was provided by Jess Lucio, Judith Segura, and Don Flusche, Sr. The police department provided assistance from Tom Ward, Willard Rollins and several others. After its completion, I was privileged to serve as the Foundation’s president until shortly after the memorial was dedicated on April 11, 2001. At that time the care and maintenance of the memorial as well as the conduit for fund raising was turned over to The Dallas Police Foundation, a non-profit publicly supported charitable foundation consisting of named funds established by separate donors for the benefit for the Dallas area. As of March 31, 2007, The Dallas Foundation held over $200,000 in the Dallas Police Memorial Endowment Fund. (For more information on the Dallas Police Foundation go to www.dallasfoundation.org). I have been blessed to have the opportunity to represent the Dallas Police Association and its members since 1978. As with any lawyer, there are good moments and not so good moments, but I will always be as proud as my involvement with the Dallas Police Memorial as with any activity associated with my legal career. I hope it will serve as a reminder to my children and grandchildren of my involvement with your organization well after I am gone. The list of honored officers includes 33 who have died in the line of duty since I was licensed to practice law in 1978. I’ve known many of these officers. All died too young. While the yearly service serves as one special day during the year when we express our public gratitude, I encourage everyone to go by the memorial at other times of the year in order to reflect on what they gave for the city and what all Dallas police officers do for us every day of the year. ______________________________________________________________ SOVERIGN IMMUNITY ISSUES…… After issuing a number of rulings last summer concerning sovereign immunity, the Texas Supreme Court has been remanding pending cases to the trial courts to determine whether the government in those cases has waived sovereign immunity under the Texas Declaratory Judgment Act and Local Government Code 271.151-160 which was enacted while many of these cases were on appeal. It is expected that the pay lawsuits will also be remanded for trial. On March 9TH, without hearing any oral argument, the Texas Supreme Court remanded to the trial court the City of Dallas vs. Doris Saucedo-Falls, et al. lawsuit which involves the city’s refusal to pay deputy and assistant chiefs the 5% raise promised in a city council resolution in 2001. ______________________________________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS TO ROGER RUDLOFF…… Congratulations to Senior Corporal Roger Rudloff who was named as the NAPO “Top Cop” at its May 12, 2007 award ceremony in Washington, D.C. ______________________________________________________________ Bob Gorsky is a partner at the Dallas law firm of Lyon, Gorsky, Haring & Gilbert, L.L.P., 3131 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75204; 214/965-0090, website: lyongorsky.com or email Bob at bgorsky@swbell.net |