The Dallas County Commissioners Court workshop on Thursday began as a routine discussion of the upcoming budget.
It took less than 30 minutes for Commissioner John Wiley Price to begin yelling.
Budget Officer Ronica Watkins was explaining a proposed allocation of $570,000 for new positions and equipment in Constable Precincts 3 and 5.
Price interrupted with a “Stop, stop, stop” and asked, “Why the hell all of a sudden” Precinct 5 was getting additional funding.
Political Points
As Watkins explained, Commissioner Elba Garcia tried to interject with more detail.
That’s when Price began yelling, his voice becoming hoarse.
“Stop! I’m not talking to you!” Price yelled at Garcia when she tried to speak.
“Ok then don’t say nothing to me,” he continued. ”God—n it! I said I was talking to [Watkins]. Do not interrupt me! Don’t interrupt!”
County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins, unsuccessfully tried to calm him down, with a“ John, OK,” before calling a recess, which lasted about 10 minutes.
With 40 years in office, Price routinely flexes his seniority by talking over citizens, county staff and fellow commissioners – sometimes with profanities and a raised voice. But the topic of constable funding struck a nerve and came on the heels of recent pushback he’s made on the office responsible for serving as bailiffs in justice of the peace courts and serving papers.
When reached by phone Friday, Price hung up on a reporter. He did not respond to questions emailed to him and his staff about his behavior. Jenkins, who is responsible for running meetings and keeping decorum, also did not respond to a phone call or email for comment.
County Judge Clay Jenkins, John Wiley Price, District 3, and Dr. Elba Garcia, District 4, at the Dallas County Commissioners Court in Dallas on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer
Garcia did not respond to a phone call, text message or questions emailed to her and her staff about Price’s behavior, which was not an isolated incident.
In March, during a discussion about the county’s organizational chart, Price interrupted Garcia as she was talking. “You don’t need to scream,” Garcia told Price.
“Stop it, I am sick and tired!” Price yelled. “You’re not my god—n mama – stop it!
But the topic of constables that prompted the latest outburst has been a source of irritation for Price.
Last week, The Dallas Morning News reported that Price deployed a fire marshal peace officer to bailiff a justice of the peace court in place of a deputy constable. It came after Judge Katina Whitfield emailed Price a list of complaints about Precinct 2 Constable Deanna Hammond.
The attempted replacement resulted in a fire marshal peace officer guarding the courtroom with the usual deputy constable – until Jenkins confirmed two days later that constables are statutorily mandated to perform the role and the fire marshal was removed.
Earlier this year the county engaged a University of Texas at Arlington professor to conduct a staffing analysis of the five constable precincts. The professor recommended additional staff for precincts 3 and 5.
But when Watkins, the budget officer, brought it up on Thursday, Price suggested Precinct 5 deputies were spending too much time at the county’s Records Building downtown.
“Most of it is outside on the d— street with these cars,” Price said. “They spend more time here than I do and I’m here every day, so tell me why 5 is a part of this?”
In an interview Friday, Precinct 5 Constable Michael Orozco said his deputies park outside the Records Building during their lunch breaks while they use the county’s gym, which he supports and encourages.
Orozco could not answer why Price was so upset at the mention of his precinct getting additional funding but he said taking it out on Garcia was inappropriate.
“I cannot speak on behalf of Dr. Elba Garcia, but I think his comments were outrageous,” Orozco said. “He made those to a fellow elected colleague on the court and I think he should apologize to Dr. Elba Garcia for his outburst.”