Government of Dallas facts for kids
The government in Dallas, Texas is like the team that runs the city! It's mainly managed by the Dallas City Council, the Mayor, and the City Manager. Dallas also has its own Dallas Police Department, Dallas Fire-Rescue, and local courts. In 2006–2007, the city's total budget for running everything was about $2.3 billion.
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How Dallas is Governed
City Council, Mayor, and City Manager
Dallas uses a special way of governing called a council-manager government. This means that the city is run by a team. The Mayor, Mike Rawlings, is the leader, and the City Manager, T.C. Broadnax, handles the daily operations. There are also 14 council members. Each council member represents one of the 14 different areas, or districts, in the city. This team works together to make important decisions for Dallas.
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Department keeps the city safe. It has about 3,500 police officers who work hard to protect everyone. David Brown was the chief of police starting in May 2010. The main building for the Police Department is in the Cedars neighborhood, which is part of South Dallas.
Dallas Fire-Rescue
The Dallas Fire-Rescue department is in charge of putting out fires and providing emergency medical services (like ambulance help) in Dallas. This department has 1,670 firefighters and 56 fire stations spread across the city. Eddie Burns, Sr. was the chief of Dallas Fire & Rescue.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue team works 24/7, every day of the year. They have many different types of vehicles and equipment to help people. This includes 57 fire engines, 21 trucks, and 40 rescue vehicles. They also have special units for dangerous materials (Haz-Mat) and for searching and rescuing people in difficult situations.
All paramedics in Dallas Fire-Rescue are also trained firefighters. Many firefighters are also trained as paramedics or EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). They get their training from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
The department also runs the Dallas Firefighter's Museum. This museum is located in Dallas's oldest fire station, which was built in 1907. You can find it near Fair Park. The Dallas Fire-Rescue department also works with fire departments in nearby towns to help each other out when needed.
The Dallas Fire Department Training Academy, also known as "The Drill Tower," is where new firefighters learn their skills. It's a regional training center, meaning firefighters from other cities in the area also come here for training. Recruits spend 22 weeks learning how to be firefighters.
