As a spike in violent crime in Dallas picked up national attention, Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall took the podium at a news conference Monday to assure residents that officers will be proactive fighting crime.

Instead, Hall caused a commotion.

Hall, while trying to explain the increase in violent crime that has now even caught Gov. Greg Abbott’s eye, said people in Dallas “who have returned from prison who can't find a job, who are not educated so in those instances” have been “forced to commit violent crimes.”

In spirit, Hall’s comments echoed the calls of social justice advocates — District Attorney John Creuzot among them — who believe the system fails to give people second chances, leaving them in a cycle of poverty and crime.

But the chief’s actual words — particularly the statement that people might be “forced to” turn to violence — sparked outrage from officer groups and some on social media.

On Tuesday, the DA distanced his policies from the chief’s remarks. And the chief later walked back her comments in a prepared statement.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano (center, back to camera) and council member Omar Narvaez (right, front) record and stream Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall's news conference pertaining to the death of Chynal Lindsey, a black transgender woman found dead. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

“In no way am I using that as an excuse to commit a crime,” Hall said. “However we have to work together as a community to remain vigilant and proactive.”

Hall's department, which is down hundreds of officers from a few years ago, has struggled to tamp down violent crime and speed up response times this year. Police statistics show double-digit percentage increases in robberies and aggravated assaults this year over the same time last year. Homicides also spiked in May — police reported 40, a one-month tally unseen since the 1990s — and some of the cases gained national attention.

Police officials have scrambled for answers. Commanders added more detectives to the homicide unit. The department also called in the FBI to look at a spate of slayings of black transgender women.

Crime has also become a central issue in the mayoral runoff between City Council member Scott Griggs and state Rep. Eric Johnson. In addition, City Council Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Adam McGough requested a special meeting next week with city officials to discuss strategies to fight crime this summer.

During a bill signing appearance in Dallas on Tuesday, the governor offered to help city officials. Abbott had previously offered Dallas help from the state three years ago when the city dealt with a similar spike.

"I'll offer the same thing right now," Abbott said. "I will make the resources of the state of Texas and the Texas Department of Public Safety available to Dallas to ensure that they have every resource and tool they need to address this challenge and to quell any increase in murders in Dallas."

Sgt. Warren Mitchell, a police spokesman, said DPS officers are already helping with the department’s summer crime initiative.

Hall said in her news conference Monday that the initiative — which targets gangs, guns, drugs and outstanding warrants — is already underway.

"We know summer crime is an issue for us," Hall said. "We, too, are concerned. We know there is a challenge as it relates to violent crime in the city of Dallas."

She added the caveat that the “police department can’t arrest” its “way out of crime." Hall's predecessor, Police Chief David Brown, often espoused that philosophy.

But her analysis about the causes of violent crime went too far, some officers and residents said.

For example, Retired Lt. Tony Crawford said on Twitter that he was “sickened by the lack of leadership” in the department. The Dallas National Latino Law Enforcement Organization tweeted “You read that correctly” in response to her statement. The Dallas Police Association wrote on Facebook and Twitter that “People who commit violence against our citizens NEED TO GO TO JAIL!”

Some other social media ire also paired Hall’s words with the DA’s new policy that ends prosecution of low-level thefts and some other non-violent offenses, such as marijuana possession.

But Creuzot said in an interview Tuesday that while incarcerated people face challenges in re-entry and have high recidivism rates, his policy should not be equated with what Hall said about violent crime.

“Our reforms don’t even mention those crimes — don’t have anything to do with those crimes,” Creuzot said.

Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata said Hall's words were "unfortunate," but he believed her overall message was that the department was committed to "law and order." Violent crime has no justification, he said.

“I would hope that she does not believe that and that everybody, regardless of the circumstances you sit in, are responsible for the actions that they make — especially when we are talking about violent crimes against innocent people,” Mata said.

Hall, in her clarifying statement Monday night, said she’s working with local clergy to teach people how to resolve disputes “without violence and find opportunities without resorting to crime.”

Assistant City Manager Jon Fortune, who oversees public safety, in a written statement said Hall and officers “recognize the value of community partnerships” to reduce crime.

“We acknowledge that our opportunity for success will be stronger when we work together to attack the root causes of crime,” Fortune said.

Jerry Hawkins, executive director with the Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation, a nonprofit organization in Dallas, said he understands “what she was saying.” Hall attempted to "give a systemic look at what police are dealing with" as it relates to poverty, inequality and recidivism.

Hawkins said Hall is addressing crime as a “societal issue, not just a law enforcement issue. Some folks want her to think just as a police officer. She’s much more than that.”

Hawkins said the prison system is not working when people go out and commit an offense again. He said to break the cycle, other institutions have to get involved.

Ed Gray, a civil rights leader and radio and TV commentator, called Hall’s remarks “well-intentioned” but said she chose the wrong time to talk about systemic problems.

Gray, who sat on the hiring panel and recommended Hall for the job, said he recognizes underlying social issues contribute to crime. But he said “ailments” related to poverty and education are the responsibility of the City Council and City Manager T.C. Broadnax, not the chief.

“Her discipline is policing,” Gray said. “At that particular time, people were looking for a response” on how the department is going to handle the uptick in crime.

Staff writer Gromer Jeffers Jr. contributed to this report.