By Scott Goldstein
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — Dallas police and fire officials announced Monday that they’re bolstering their efforts to combat a string of more than 20 automobile arsons in southern Dallas over the past month -- the latest of which targeted the marked car of a deputy constable.
“We’ve taken this as a very, very high priority,” Police Chief David Kunkle said.
Police officers will be dispatched throughout the targeted area in marked and unmarked cars, Chief Kunkle said.
The effort will also use the department’s gang unit and helicopter, as well as tactical and off-duty personnel, he said.
Dallas Fire Chief Eddie Burns said officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI also are assisting the investigation in an advisory capacity.
“Our goal is to identify suspects, create a profile and find out who’s setting these fires,” Chief Burns said.
Since Feb. 28, at least 21 vehicles have been burned, with damage estimated at $87,000, city officials said.
Some of the fires were set with Molotov cocktails, while other vehicles were soaked with gasoline and set ablaze, Chief Kunkle said.
Officials said they don’t have a detailed description of the suspect or suspects.
“We don’t know whether there’s a single group or more than one group,” Chief Kunkle said.
Monday’s announcement at a news conference at police headquarters came hours after a Dallas County deputy constable’s official vehicle was burned.
His marked vehicle was set on fire about 1 a.m. Monday in the 1400 block of West Ninth Street in Oak Cliff. Officials estimated the damage at $7,500.
Three vehicles also were reported burned Sunday morning, including a vehicle used by the Holy House of Prayer Interpretation church in the 1900 block of Ramsey Avenue.
The east Oak Cliff church used the Cadillac to transport its elderly members to services, Senior Pastor Robert Chalk said.
For Mr. Chalk, Monday’s tough talk was just that.
“Enough with the press conference, let’s get out here,” Mr. Chalk said. “Let’s put it in effect.”
Mr. Chalk said he plans to have a meeting Friday to round up volunteers to patrol the neighborhood.
“We need to get to the bottom of this before someone loses their life,” he said.
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News