In what can be seen as a unique blend of law enforcement training and historical education, cadets from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office Basic Peace Officer Course Class #145 have recently stepped out of the conventional classroom and into the somber halls of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.
The visit was highlighted on the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office's social media: "Good morning from Dallas County Sheriff's Office Basic Peace Officer Course Class #145," the post began, detailing one of their unique training sessions at the museum. The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum has its roots in the collective vision of Holocaust survivors who settled in Dallas back in 1984. These survivors sought to create a beacon of memory and education. In this place, future generations could grasp the weight of the Holocaust, and also to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of antisemitism and prejudice.
Originally stationed in the basement of the Jewish Community Center, the museum carved out a new space for itself in 2005, inhabiting a 6,000-square-foot area in Dallas' historic West End. Rapidly evolving in both size and mission, the institution found its permanent residence in a considerably larger 55,000-square-foot building that opened in September 2019. Aside from educating visitors on the history of the Holocaust, the museum's expanded mission now also tackles the broader scope of human rights issues.
