Redeployment to increase Texas National Guard at Dallas-Fort Worth protests by 500
There were 800 Texas National Guard troops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Wednesday to help local law enforcement keep order during protest demonstrations.
By week’s end, the number of Texas National Guard troops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is expected to grow to 1,300, Col. Mike Wallace said.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday requested that 5,000 Texas National Guard troops be redeployed statewide to help with crowd control and other law enforcement tasks, Wallace said. No Texas National Guard troops have been used in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus said Tuesday that he would prefer that Fort Worth officers police Fort Worth events without outside assistance.
Texas National Guard troops have assumed a support role and assist troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Wallace said. National Guard troops will not make arrests, but they can assist officers with making arrests, he said.
However, since the mass arrests on Monday in Dallas on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, when more than 600 were arrested, the demonstrations have been calm, Wallace said. The troops have been activated just to be ready in case they are needed, Wallace said.
“We hope it stays that way,” Wallace said.
With any luck, this mission will be over by the middle of next week, and the troops helping with protests can be reassigned to tasks such as helping to hand out food to the needy and cleaning nursing homes, Wallace said.
Some have complained that the military presence is intimidating, but Wallace said his troops are Texans and support the people’s right to protest 100%.
“We’re your neighbor, we’re your co-worker, I think we’re met a little bit differently,” Wallace said.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 7:02 PM.
