DALLAS – Donald Stafford, the first Black officer to achieve a rank above Lieutenant in Dallas, has died at 89. Stafford was the 14th Black officer hired by the Dallas Police Department when he joined the force in 1960. Before joining the Dallas Police Department, Stafford served in the U.S. Air Force, according to his obituary. During his career, he served as a patrolman in the Central and Southeast Patrol Divisions, detective, then sergeant, lieutenant, captain, director and deputy chief.