Cop Watch: Dallas Cop Tasers Himself, Goes to Hospital, Becomes Hit on Digg.Com

Last week, the video of a Dallas cop tasering himself was one of the Top Videos at Digg.com with over 1100 hits. The video itself (you can watch it below) is from a local TV newscast that starts out giving a map of the Dallas metroplex, just in case folk around here needed a visual to understand one of local law enforcement officers was the one involved.

Now, this isn't the first time we've blogged on Texas cops misusing tasers. Just check out this list of prior posts:

August 2009: Taser Death of Michael Jacobs

July 2009: Two Taser Stories ("Take it!!! Take it!!!" the cop cried while repeatedly using the Taser)

July 2009: Cops Taser the Pastor -- in the Church Parking Lot

June 2009: Cops Taser a 72 Year Old Grandma -- twice.

May 2009: Cops Taser the Town Drunk and Kill Him

April 2009: Cop Tasers His Own Wife

March 2009: Cops Taser the Father of the Bride at the Wedding Reception

Texas Cops Use of Tasers is a Serious Situation becoming a National Joke

It's becoming more and more serious when cops are actually hurting themselves (note from the video, the cop was taken to the hospital to get treatment for his injuries), websites like Digg.com are gathering an audience based upon the humor in the situation, and still -- nothing is being done to deal with TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT MISUSING STUN GUNS AND HURTING -- SOMETIMES KILLING -- PEOPLE.

When is the Texas Legislature going to take notice?????

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Northwest Neighborhood Alliance gives homeowners collective clout

If you drive on an upgraded road, walk in a new city park or read a book in your neighborhood library, you can probably thank the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance.

From wider and safer roads, to more parks and green space to a reduction of “bandit signs” on utility poles, the NNA has taken neighborhood issues to City Hall and often gotten results.

It was formed in 1994 to give homeowners associations (HOAs) a united voice that elected officials could not ignore.

“The Northwest Neighborhood Alliance has worked hard to be the voice of the people in this part of city toward City Council and the state Legislature, especially in zoning matters,” said Chairwoman Margaret Tovar.

The alliance also represents property owners associations (POAs), community improvement associations (CIAs) and smaller groups and individuals (homeowner or renter) living within its boundaries, Tovar emphasized.

NNA covers northwest San Antonio between Loop 410 and Loop 1604 stretching from Highway 90 on the west to Interstate 10 on the east. It was formed by the late Ernani "Nani" Falcone, Dominick Dina and others to improve their community.

But its influence stretches beyond the northwest area, said Dina, vice chairman of NNA.

“The Northwest Neighborhood Alliance was the model for the (City Council) District 9 Neighborhood Alliance in the North Central area. And the District 10 Neighborhood Alliance in the Northeast area was modeled after the D-9 group,” Dina said.

All three alliances typically help individual HOAs with a local issue such as a traffic intersection, but also work on larger issues that impact their area. Over the years they have become two-way conduits for residents to their council member and vice versa.

The alliances also have been training areas for and incubators of future council members and mayors.

Former San Antonio mayors Howard Peak and Ed Garza worked with the NNA while current District 10 Councilman John Clamp previously was an official with D-10.

“Back in the 1990s, the Leon Creek Greenbelt Coalition was very active in preserving the Leon Creek waterway,” Dina said. “The Northwest Neighborhood Alliance, along with several NNA members, took active leadership roles which lead to Mayor Peak's linear parks initiative we enjoy today.”

In recent years the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance has been able to help bring major projects to its area, officials said.

Those projects include: a $5 million upgrade to Tezel Road with added lanes, better drainage and sidewalks; “co-locating” city services like a library and fire station next to each other; the 11-acre New Territories Community Park at Guilbeau and Old Tezel roads; a city crackdown on “bandit signs"– illegal signs attached to utility poles and in public right-of-way.

“We (NNA) showed if you work with the city, show logic in your goals and do your homework, things can happen,” Dina said.

“When the New Territories HOA went defunct, we were able to persuade the city to buy their three-acre complex that included a park and swimming pool. And several years later when an adjacent property came available we suggested the city buy it and now we have an 11-acre city park with trails, a pool and recreational courts,” he added.

Similarly, NNA worked to have multiple city services “co-located” near each other. The Falcone Community Park is across the street from a city library and fire station on Mystic Park, a road that connects Bandera and Guilbeau roads.

NNA is comprised of more than 30 neighborhood groups representing more than 30,000 homes, but the number of those groups that participate in regular meetings has dropped in recent years, said NNA member Jody Sherrill.

Tovar said: “We are working to get more involvement from all our members and from new neighborhood groups as well.”

The organization routinely monitors northwest side issues such as zoning cases and road construction projects and posts updates on those issues on its web site and isn't afraid to bend the ears of city, county and state officials.

NNA is gearing up for City Council redistricting expected to take place within a year or two of the 2010 census.

Dina said the organization's service area is spread over three council districts – 6, 7 and 8.

“Growth and the dynamics of individual council districts have changed. And the boundaries need to also change to reflect those dynamic. Districts should not be elongated like District 6 is now,” Dina said.

“A former District 6 representative said it felt like he had three districts in one because the dynamics of the three areas were so different,” he said.

Dina said the current geographic configuration of some council districts splits HOAs in half making things difficult for those HOAs and the alliance. “The split means dealing with more than one council member on an issue,” he said.

Dina and other NNA board members also favor having more than 10 council districts.

“Having 12 council districts will reduce the population in districts (some which have more than 100,000 people) and give residents better representation,” Dina said.

Tovar said other issues NNA is actively looking at include digital billboards and getting a raised median on Guilbeau Road at its intersection with Bandera Road.

Some motors try to make a quick left turn into several food establishments creating a dangerous situation at that intersection.

Timberwood Park POA takes control of common areas

After 30 years of managing Timberwood Park's common areas, the Timberwood Development Co. (TDC) is passing the mantle to the far North Side development's property owner association.

Since Timberwood Park's inception, TDC has managed and maintained the subdivision common areas, including entrance ways to Timberwood Park as well as a 30-acre recreational park available to all residents.

Cindy Griffin, president of Timberwood Park Property Owners Assocation (TPPOA), said the turnover was approved in 2001 but because of the large size of the 2,500-acre development, the process to make TPPOA the managing entity has taken time.

“This was a mutually-agreed-upon decision. The developers felt that their interests were well-protected and they had reached a point where their goals had been met,” Griffin said.

“The biggest change is that we are becoming self-managing and will be better able to ascertain how monies are spent. For example, if we want to build a new playground or make other improvements, we can do so without having to get approval from TDC.”

Chuck Krause, president of TDC, said it has always been the intention of TDC to turn over control and maintenance of the common areas to TPPOA and added that the turnover was made possible as TDC's obligation to maintain roads in Timberwood Park came to a close.

Krause said almost all of Timberwood Park's 43 miles of roads are now maintained by Bexar County with the exception of a few development units being completed at this time.

With a population of about 10,000, the Timberwood Park subdivision lies just north of Stone Oak, with U.S. 281 and Blanco Road serving as its east and west boundaries. The development abuts the city of Bulverde and is located in the Comal Independent School District.

Griffin said that as TPPOA assumes management of the development's common areas, it will begin collecting monthly assessments from about 2,600 homeowners. She said the turnover will not be officially complete until Dec. 31, 2010, but added that the transition is already underway.

Griffin said the majority of collected funds will be used to operate, maintain, and enhance the development's park, which contains a swimming pool, six-hole golf course, seven-acre fishing lake, playground, clubhouse with exercise facility, pavilion, and walking trails.

While TDC manager Jason Gale said most residents won't notice a discernible difference as TDC hands over the reins, Griffin said most of Timberwood Park's residents are “more than happy” that the property owners association is assuming management of the development's recreational facilities.

“Our priorities are different from TDC. We will now be property-owner driven and our interest will be to maintain the park at a level that is satisfactory to the Timberwood Park residents,” Griffin said.

“We are thrilled that the common areas will now belong to the property owners of Timberwood Park.”

Griffin, who has been president of TPPOA since 2006 and was involved in much of the turnover negotiations, said she is delighted with the smooth transition thus far.

“A lot of other turnovers between developers and property owner associations are contentious, but this is not the case with us,” she said.

By By Laura Mrachek

Filing Deadlines

See 9.003 of the TX Family Code



A suit to enforce the division of tangible personal property in existence at the time of the decree of divorce or annulment must be filed before the SECOND ANNIVERSARY of the date of the decree or becomes final after appeal, whichever is LATER, or the suit is barred.

How do I learn about Post Decree Proceedings?

Chapter 9 of the TX FAmily Code

My employer does not want to withhold child support

Check out Chapter 8, Subchapter E (Rights and duties of Employer) in the TX Family Code.



Employers are ORDERED to withhold child support if they receive the right paperwork from the court.



The employer may deduct a small administrative fee for doing this paperwork.