TOO MANY VOICES SILENT

The verdict in the Mark Delapaz trial left many to question who is
being served by justice in Dallas, Texas. At this point, it certainly
isn't the victims caught up in the fake-drug scandal.

Look for the Dallas County district attorney to make an interesting
announcement on the Dallas Police Department's fake-drug scandal next
week. Dallas taxpayers will soon pay millions of their tax dollars for
lawsuits related to dozens of wrongful arrests.

Before anyone goes back to work, the smart thing to do is initiate an
outside, independent investigation into this matter that will bring to
light just how we got to this situation in the first place. There was
informant money paid that was far above the norm during the fake drug
scandal. Who approved these outrageous payments? Did they follow
policy? Is there departmental policy that dictates how much an
informant is paid? Is there departmental policy that dictates what
steps are taken when informant money is paid? Who signs out for this
money?

Why have we not heard a whisper from anyone other than a few from
within Dallas' Hispanic leadership on this issue? For that matter,
when are any of the Hispanics who currently serve on the Dallas City
Council going to call for an outside, independent investigation on the
Dallas Police Department's fake-drug scandal? So far, I've only heard
Mayor Laura Miller call for an investigation of this type to be conducted.

Press releases are a start, but now it is time for Dallas' Hispanic
leadership to take a unified stand on this issue. We have the National
League of United Latin American Citizens president, several local
LULAC presidents and a few Hispanic elected officials who live in
Dallas County. We also have a whole bunch of High-spanics who always
trip over themselves to get in front of the camera but when things get
hot in the kitchen they're nowhere to be found.

However, this is not an issue affecting just our community. It affects
every person who lives and works in the city of Dallas. We need all
council members - white, black and brown - to demand accountability so
that we can again begin to trust the police department. Where are the
voices of those who believe in justice regardless of race, religion,
nationality or ethnicity? The silence is deafening. How sad for us
all.

Jesse Diaz, president, Dallas LULAC Council 4496, Dallas