Cops Behaving Badly

Dallas police officer gets canned for punching man during off-duty traffic stop

A Dallas police officer has been fired for using excessive force during a traffic stop.

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A Dallas police officer who was indicted for official oppression and assault has been fired from the department. Officer Rene Villanueva is accused of repeatedly punching a man during a traffic stop in November 2013. The incident was recorded on Villanueva's dash camera (skip to the 2-minute mark for the post-chase confrontation).

Around 2 am on the night in question, Villanueva was working off duty at a night club in the 400 block of South Buckner Boulevard when Ambrosio Monsavais sped through the parking lot. Instead of following proper felony stop protocol, Villanueva approached the vehicle alone, with his gun drawn, and proceeded to punch Monsavais as he sat in the driver's seat.

According to police, Villanueva holstered his weapon, threw two additional punches at Monsavais, and pulled the man out of his car and onto the ground. The officer continued to punch Monsavais while attempting to handcuff him. All of this was captured by dash-cam footage, including when another Dallas police officer arrived to assist with the arrest.

Villanueva had worked in the Northeast Patrol division since 2007. A Dallas County grand jury indicted him on charges of official oppression and assault on March 12. Dallas Police Chief David Brown terminated Villanueva on March 21.

DPD News

Dallas signs off on lease on UNT campus for police training academy

Dallas Police Department

DPD

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The Dallas City Council approved a lease with the University of North Texas Dallas campus for a proposed Dallas Police Training Academy. The lease paves the way for the development of a new Law Enforcement Training Center and Criminal Justice Center on a 20-acre site at UNT-Dallas, part of the City’s efforts to modernize police training and deepen academic partnerships.

The new facility, which was first proposed in 2021, will house the Dallas Police Department’s Basic and In-Service Training Academy, along with a Criminal Justice Center, creating a centralized, state-of-the-art campus for officer development.

Training spaces will include modern classrooms, indoor simulation labs, and areas for defensive tactics instruction.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to preparing officers through modern, state of the art, community-connected training,” said Dominique Artis, Dallas Chief of Public Safety. “The combination of a police academy and Criminal Justice Center at a university campus enhances recruitment, education, and public trust.”

Benefits of the Law Enforcement Training Center and Criminal Justice Center include

Academic Partnership: Collaboration with UNT-Dallas opens doors for research, continuing education, and career pathways for both officers and students alike - creating a pipeline to future cadets and expanding opportunities for local talent
.Modern Training Facilities: The campus will feature simulation environments, flexible classroom space, and the latest instructional technology.
Strategic Location: As the first police training academy in southern Dallas, the project brings long-term public investment to the area.
Dual-Campus Model: This site complements a planned Public Safety Complex elsewhere in Dallas that will serve as a field training location for both DPD and Dallas Fire-Rescue.

According to KERA, the training academy is estimated to cost $185 million, plus $90 million for the public safety complex, for a total of $275 million. There is currently $96.5 million committed including $50 million from the 2024 Bond Program passed by the voters in May 2024, along with state grants, money from the Caruth Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas, and private fundraising commitments. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

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