Dallas Police Chief David Brown, who oversaw the response to a July sniper attack that killed five officers, has announced his retirement.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says the announcement by police Chief David Brown to retire didn't come as a surprise because six years as the head of a metropolitan police force is an "eternity."
Rawlings said during a news conference Thursday that Brown was the longest-serving police chief in Dallas in recent decades. He noted the job is challenging because of the pressure that comes with it and its "highly political" demands.
The mayor credited Brown with transforming the department by reducing the number of officer-involved shootings, urging transparency and implementing other measures.
Rawlings also said the department under Brown for the first time had majority minority personnel, reflecting the diverse population of Dallas.
Brown issued a statement Thursday saying he will retire Oct. 22 after 33 years with Dallas police. He was not immediately available for additional comment.
Brown says he was prompted to become an officer in 1983 by a crack cocaine epidemic in a Dallas neighborhood. He was named police chief in 2010.
He's drawn criticism from Dallas police unions for not doing enough to retain many officers who have left for better pay elsewhere, but his leadership following the July 7 shooting deaths of the officers drew praise from President Barack Obama and others.
