Senior Corporal Zachary Helm, a veteran Dallas police officer assigned to the Special Investigations Division, was arrested on June 29, 2026, on a solicitation of prostitution charge and has been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation. Helm, badge number 8859, has been with the Dallas Police Department since June 2006. The department has classified the allegation as solicitation of prostitution.
Department statement
In a brief notice on its official blog, DPD Beat, the department said Helm was arrested by Dallas police and charged with solicitation of prostitution, which is described as a state-jail felony. According to the post, Helm has been placed on administrative leave, and an internal affairs investigation is underway. The department added that no additional information will be released at this time.
The charge and penalties
Under Texas law, solicitation of prostitution is a state-jail felony, carrying a potential sentence of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and fines of up to $10,000, according to Texas Penal Code §43.021 and state-jail punishment provisions. That felony classification means buyers, not just sellers, can face felony charges rather than misdemeanors, a legal shift that has shaped recent demand-reduction strategies in local vice operations.
How this fits in local enforcement
The arrest lands amid a broader crackdown on commercial sex and related crime in Dallas. This year, police have ramped up undercover stings and nuisance actions, including detaining dozens of people at a paid-sex event in northwest Dallas, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. The city has also moved to demolish motel properties linked to ongoing prostitution and drug activity, according to coverage from KERA News.
What comes next
The internal investigation into Helm will run alongside any criminal proceedings. According to the department’s notice, he will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of that review. Officials did not release information about specific charges beyond the stated offense, or about booking details or upcoming court dates. DPD Beat reported the arrest but did not provide further details.
