Dallas PD turns down breakfast, donation from Mavericks CEO after email sparks outrage

By PoliceOne Staff

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks’ new CEO attempted to bring breakfast to Dallas police but was turned away after some officers were upset with the message from a movement she promoted.

On Wednesday, Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall encouraged people to wear black and blue as part of a movement to promote unity between local communities and police, CBS DFW reported. Marshall’s grassroots movement, BB725, recognizes the five officers killed in the July 7, 2016 ambush in downtown Dallas.

But the movement also recognizes Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two men who died in officer-involved shootings during the same week as the ambush.

While Dallas officers said they supported Marshall’s effort to bring the community together, a number of them said they were outraged from a mass email from the Mavericks that explained the purpose of the movement. The email, which notified the department of Marshall’s plan to bring breakfast to police, said in part that “BB725 7/25 represents the 7 who died July 5, 6, 7 2016 – 2 died because they were black, 5 died because they wore blue,” according to WFAA.

Several officers reportedly found the description offensive and were upset that the movement highlighted the Sterling and Castile shootings. Some wondered why Marshall’s movement doesn’t recognize the three Baton Rouge officers killed in an ambush a week after the Dallas ambush.

“You have a lot of officers that are upset,” said Sgt. George Aranda, head of the Dallas chapter of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization. “It’s inappropriate, it’s uncalled for, it’s just at the wrong time.”

Boycott this breakfast at HQ..shouldn’t even be allowed in the building…horrible statement!! @dallasmavs @DallasBlue214 pic.twitter.com/avQkzVKY3v

— Dallas NLLEO (@DallasNLLEO) July 25, 2018

Marshall and a group of people showed up outside the Dallas PD headquarters Wednesday morning to hold a moment of silence. The group then planned to bring breakfast and a donation of $7,250 to the department.

But the group was turned away. The departement wouldn’t allow Marshall to come inside for the meal or donation presentation.

In a statement, a Dallas police spokeswoman said the event was cancelled “in response to internal member feedback and the current mood within our organization.” The statement also said police communicated with Mavs leadership about the last-minute cancellation.

“It’s unfortunate that someone is offended because we have young black men who are racially profiled and getting killed,” Marshall said.

The Dallas Mavericks organization sent a follow-up email to the department to apologize about the wording of the email. It said the organization “made the mistake of not recognizing how offensive the content may come across to some of our brothers in blue,” according to KDFW.