Dallas police chief David Brown chastised politicians and the media on Monday for asking police officers to weigh in on contentious political debates like gun control, saying that policymakers need to do their jobs.
Brown added that he "can't stand watching cable news anymore" as he gave reporters an update on the investigation into the mass shooting of Dallas police officers last Thursday night.
"We’re a local democracy here in Dallas, and our council has a role, but there’s a greater role in policymaking, and folks just need to do their job," Brown said. "There’s too many things we all agree on both sides of the aisle that we haven’t gotten done, and we just need to get it done, and quit asking cops to chime in and do it for you. We’ve got a full plate."
"The policymaking, the laws being passed, that’s their job, and they need to do it so that we can be safer in this country, and the issues have been long-discussed," Brown continued. "I can’t stand watching cable news anymore. It’s been discussed for forever, and we’re just not getting to a place where we do anything. And that’s the frustration for police offers is that we all know what needs to be done, that we agree on. Let’s get that done, just to say we did something to help everyone."
A reporter asked Brown to elaborate on what he meant about such issues.
"Well, something on guns," Brown said. "You know, I was asked, ‘What’s your opinion about guns?’ Well, ask the policymakers to do something, then I’ll give you an opinion. Put a law out there, and I’ll give you an opinion about it. But to have me do that job? I'll pass on that. Get in that debate and get swallowed up by both sides who are entrenched in their positions? I want no part of that. Do the job. We’re doing ours. We’re putting our lives on the line. The other aspects of government need to step up and help us."