Cops Behaving Badly

Dallas police officer slept on the job and swiped parts from auto pound

A Dallas police officer will serve a 20-day suspension for misconduct while on duty.

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Lt. Michael Magiera isn't what you'd call a model Dallas police officer. At a March 7 disciplinary hearing, Magiera received two 10-day suspensions for showing up to work under the influence of prescription drugs and "taking property from others without authorization" at the Dallas auto pound.

He also received a letter of reprimand for sleeping at his desk while on duty in July 2013.

On multiple occasions, Magiera, who is assigned to the auto pound, allegedly removed car batteries and other various parts from cars. He stated these items "could be used for departmental purposes." He did not assign inventory control numbers to the parts, so they were unable to be tracked. It is believed Magiera may have sold some of these items at auctions.

In a separate incident of misconduct, Magiera reported for duty on October 25, 2013, while under the influence of prescription drugs. According to his supervisors, Magiera had an odd demeanor, lethargic speech and a disheveled appearance. He also had difficulty keeping his eyes open and his head leveled. A drug test revealed that Magiera was on prescription drugs and should not have been driving.

Internal Affairs concluded that Magiera arrived to work under the influence of drugs and engaged in negligence, improper handling and "taking property from others without authorization" at the auto pound.

As punishment he was given two 10-day suspensions, which will be served consecutively for a total of 20 days off.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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