About

About Safer Dallas

Safer Dallas was founded with a clear and urgent mission: to make our city safer by strengthening the partnership between local law enforcement and the citizens of Dallas. What began in 2005 as a determined initiative by civic leaders Jack Hammack and Charles Terrell has since evolved into one of Dallas’ most impactful public safety nonprofits.

A Legacy of Action, A Future of Innovation

For nearly two decades, Safer Dallas has delivered strategic solutions to support the Dallas Police Department (DPD) and protect the public. From funding high-resolution digital surveillance cameras in critical areas of downtown, to supplying advanced equipment, to pioneering the first DPD smartphone app, our work reflects an unwavering commitment to public safety innovation. These investments are more than tools—they are force multipliers that empower officers and safeguard neighborhoods.

"Public trust is essential to public safety. It is up to us as citizens to support and trust each other to build a safer Dallas together."

Courtney Underwood, Chairman, Safer Dallas Better Dallas

The Mission

The mission of Safer Dallas Better Dallas is to protect our citizens from becoming victims of crime
and to engage them in a partnership with Dallas Police, to support the efforts of our Dallas police officers,
and to make Dallas America’s safest big city.

Board of Trustees

Understanding Key Issues

New data show the city’s population grew by about 9,200 over the past decade to about 1,197,800 residents in the 2010 U.S. census, and the city has 734 more officers than in 2000.

In 2012, the department identified 27 zones in the city where people are most likely to be victimized by crime. These 27 areas make up just 6 percent of the city’s area but account for over 36 percent of its crime. Safer Dallas Better Dallas is committed to supporting Chief David Brown’s goal to equip DPD with the necessary tools to attack crime in these concentrated areas. Equipping the TAAG areas with the leading technology will result in an overall city-wide crime reduction and, more specifically:

Reduction in residential burglaries and thefts
Reduction in business burglaries and thefts
Reduction of motor vehicle burglaries
Reduction of motor vehicle thefts
Provide investigative leads to solve crimes

“Additional officers are the key to the crime rate going down,” said Charles Terrell, Board of Trustee of Safer Dallas Better Dallas and former head of the mayoral task force that set the goal for three officers per thousand in the late 1980s. “We’ll be a much safer city and the citizens will be much safer” if the city can stay within throwing distance of the three-officers-per-thousand goal", he said. Safer Dallas Better Dallas has worked with the Dallas City Council to assure the budget for public safety provides adequate funding to meet the three-officers-per-thousand goal.

Dallas saw an overall crime in the city reduction of 4.1 percent in 2011. Violent crime dropped 8.8 percent, and property crime dropped 3.5 percent. Homicides have reached a 44-year low. Total crime from 2003 to 2011 was down 38.9 percent. Beefed-up police staffing made a significant difference in the department’s crime-fighting efforts.

Over a Decade of Results

Safer Dallas was formed to make our community safer by supporting local law enforcement and building a strong relationship between Dallas police and local citizens. Safer Dallas began its formal efforts in the summer of 2005 after founders Jack Hammack and Charles Terrell spent nearly a year researching and meeting with hundreds of Dallas leaders. The response was tremendous; over 75 business and community leaders chose to join the Safer Dallas Steering Committee in a show of support for Dallas police.

Over $21 million has been raised to directly support DPD initiatives, reflecting the generosity and shared purpose of our partners and donors. Each dollar is a statement of belief: that a safer Dallas is possible, and that strategic public-private collaboration can make it happen.

Public Trust is the Foundation of Public Safety

“Public trust is essential to public safety. It is up to us as citizens to support and trust each other to build a safer Dallas together.”

— John Forest, President, Safer Dallas Better Dallas

Safer Dallas recognizes that public trust and law enforcement effectiveness go hand in hand. That’s why we not only fund tangible tools but also advocate for thoughtful, community-driven policy. We work to educate civic leaders, foster transparency, and amplify solutions that reduce crime while reinforcing mutual respect between officers and the communities they serve.

Our Vision Ahead

Looking to the future, Safer Dallas remains a proactive and visionary organization. As new challenges emerge, we are committed to identifying and implementing the next generation of safety initiatives. Whether it’s supporting officer training, deploying data-driven technologies, or leading efforts that bridge the gap between police and citizens, Safer Dallas is focused on creating a model of urban safety that other cities can follow.

We invite all Dallas residents—civic leaders, business owners, neighborhood groups, and individuals—to join us in this mission. Together, we are not just reacting to crime—we are shaping the future of safety in Dallas.

Safer Dallas: Investing in Trust. Empowering Officers. Protecting Communities.