Dallas police group unhappy with plans, pace of police building safety plans

At least one Dallas police group is not happy with the plans and pace of security enhancements to police buildings since the attack on Dallas police headquarters in June.

The city's seven police substations have been guarded around the clock by officers in squad cars since the brazen attack by James Boulware.

“The reality is we need fences around our parking lots to protect our officers,” said Richard Todd of the Dallas Fraternal Order of Police. “We need access gates for limited access that should have been done five months ago at least, but we're talking about it paying people to do surveys and studies. It’s a waste of money, it’s fiscally irresponsible.”

The Dallas Public Works department will make recommendations to enhance security in the buildings that house police officers and headquarters next week.

Among the recommendations is a nearly $125,000 contract with a Los Angeles-based company who would be in charge of improving the police headquarters' lobby desk area and assessing seven police substations.

In July, Assistant City Manager Eric Campbell told FOX4 that substation security enhancements had to be done right.

“Our buildings are an important part of the neighborhood, so we don’t want to go to the far end and make them fortresses. We want to make sure that they are open and accessible.”