HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0040) FY21 CCPD Program Scope Abbreviated.pdfENHANCED ENFORCEMENT
School Resource Unit
The Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) works in partnership with area school
districts and the Lena Pope Home to provide youth a safe educational environment
through the School Resource Unit. The Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD)
funds sworn positions as well as related training, weapons, IT costs, cell phone costs
and a variety of equipment and supplies associated with the program. The participating
school districts and Lena Pope Home reimburse the FWPD 50 percent of the officer
personnel and operating costs, and the full cost for supervisory and relief positions.
School Resource Officers are sensitive to the varied needs of students and staff,
while also being vigilant and prepared to carry out law enforcement duties at a
moment's notice. In the summer months, SRO officers continue rigorous training to
prepare them for the upcoming school year. This training includes tactics to deal with
any situation, from minor incidents such as fights and bullying, to major events such as
bomb threats active shooter situations. The goals of this program are to ensure a safe
learning environment for students, carry out law enforcement duties and serve as
mentors in an effort to encourage positive behavior.
The FY21 CCPD budget includes funding for an additional three School Resource
Officers.
Special Events Overtime Detail/
Special Events Emergency Response (SEER)
The Special Events Overtime Detail and Special Events Emergency Response teams
(SEER) provide Traffic Division officers the ability to assist in managing traffic ingress
and egress, providing a service for event participants without impacting normal patrol
operations. The Traffic Division spends more than 100 days a year in an effort to offer
the best experience possible to all event participants. The Special Events Emergency
Response unit attends special events and is available in case of emergencies that
threaten public safety.
Moreover, the Special Events Overtime Detail funding provides the FWPD the ability to
ensure officers are actively working the outside perimeter of the event to enhance
public safety at designated special events. The program does not include security
inside an establishment, as this is paid by the enterprise holding the event.
The FWPD has witnessed a significant increase in the number of events as well as
event attendance. Although public safety and traffic control at large events can be a
challenge, this service assists not only the event participants, but also has a positive
economic impact on Fort Worth, increasing sales tax revenues and providing positive
publicity for the city.
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Parks Community Policing
The purpose of the Parks Community Policing program is to provide a safe environment
for the public and staff at all Park and Recreation Department facilities and sponsored
programs by having an officer present at specific sites and events. P olice officers
are offered overtime opportunities to work at Park and Recreation Department
facilities, sponsored athletic events, and community center recreation programs. In
addition, private security is provided at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, which is also
funded through the CCPD.
Police presence through the Parks Community Policing Program enhances crime
prevention efforts aligned with the mission and goals of the CCPD. Incident reports
are compiled from all participating Park and Recreation Department sites. Recent
reports reflect the successful operation of the program, as very few violent acts and
an extremely low number of criminal offenses have occurred at participating Park and
Recreation Department centers throughout Fort Worth.
Strategic Operations Fund
The Strategic Operations Fund (SOF) enhances the FWPD's capacity to implement
strategic operation details focused on taking repeat offenders off the street that are
identified through intelligence -led policing initiatives. The Patrol Commanders
typically lead the research, analysis, and development of strategic operation
recommendations. The Criminal Investigations Division also has SOF funding at their
disposal. Coordination between specialized units and patrol divisions implement the
Strategic Operations based on the needs for the proposed detail. Officers are provided
an opportunity to participate in the detail on an overtime basis as to not interrupt
normal operations. The Research and Planning Section and the Budget Unit receive
after -action reports in order to track and report the outcomes of these details.
Stockyards Overtime Detail
The Stockyards Overtime Detail increases the FWPD's capacity to implement details
within the popular Stockyards entertainment area, enhancing public safety efforts
responding to calls promptly. The Stockyards Overtime Detail generally includes
a team of four officers and one sergeant and is conducted on Friday and Saturday
nights when higher call volumes in the area create staff shortages in other Divisions.
The program provides officers the opportunity to participate in the Stockyards detail
on an overtime basis as not to interrupt normal patrol operation. The detail
concentrates on public intoxication, burglary of motor vehicles, and assaults. Parking
issues and responds to all calls in the Stockyards are also the responsibility of the detail.
In addition, this detail assists in maintaining a police presence without impacting
Northwest Division's evening and night shifts.
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Mounted Patrol
The FWPD Mounted Patrol began in the 1970s. The Unit was created in an effort to curtail
the transient issues in the Stockyards area. Moreover, there was a desire on the part of
the citizens to see officers on horseback as a working officer as well as a reminder of our
western heritage. The teams are highly visible, very effective and go wherever needed.
Their special maneuverability enables them to be effective at area malls, hospital parking
lots, downtown, residential areas and crowd control. These officers have been called to
incidents of search and rescue in rugged terrain for lost or deceased persons.
Central Bikes
The Central Bikes program provides safety and security for the downtown area. The
primary functions of Bicycle Patrol are to deter street crime and increase the safety for
citizens in certain target areas by providing safety measures for demonstrations, protests
and events held downtown such as ArtsFest and downtown holiday festivities.
COPS Hiring Match
The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program is designed to
advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn
officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. The
program provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new and/or rehire
veteran law enforcement officers and to increase the agencies' community policing
capacities and crime prevention efforts. The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grants will
provide up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of full-
time officers for a 36-month grant period, with a minimum 25 percent local cash match
requirement; Crime Control and Prevention District funds will cover this local match
requirement.
West Bikes
The West Bikes program provides support to the West 7th Cultural District which has
become a hub for social activity in the City of Fort Worth. It currently has over 30 Bars
that draw between 2,000 and 6,000+ patrons in a given night. With the opening of the
Dickies Arena, we anticipate the number of visitors to the area to increase exponentially.
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NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION
Neighborhood Patrol Officers (NPOs)
The Neighborhood Patrol Officer (NPO) program provides the FWPD the ability to
provide police services to specific neighborhoods and designated geographic areas.
Neighborhood Patrol Officers are able to become more familiar with specific
neighborhoods by getting to know area residents and business owners and the issues
they face by learning neighborhood concerns. In addition, they b u i I d working
relationships with area Citizen on Patrol volunteers and promoting crime prevention
tools and techniques. The NPOs maintain open lines of communication between
residents, business owners and the police department by attending community
meetings and events.
Patrol Support
The Patrol Support program provides funding for the six Patrol Divisions: Northwest,
North, East, South, West, and Central. The Crime Control and Prevention District
provides funds for special details, overtime, utilities, and maintenance for various
facilities used by patrol officers. This includes funding for the West 7t" special detail.
Gang Graffiti Abatement
Graffiti is an illegal activity in which a person or group marks another's property without
their consent. Graffiti is unattractive, lowers property values, and can encourage other
types of criminal activity in neighborhoods. Graffiti and its associated problems can
be defeated by removing it from a property as soon as possible. The Park and
Recreation Department manages the Gang Graffiti Abatement Program. It works in
conjunction with the FWPD Gang Unit providing assistance to remove graffiti from
tagged or vandalized properties.
The Gang Graffiti Abatement Program is funded through the Crime Control and
Prevention District to provide labor assistance to remove graffiti as requested by
affected property owners. The program provides educational materials explaining the
negative impacts of graffiti. It also provides contractual funds for the high-tech removal
of graffiti as necessary. The Park and Recreation Department also works with area
schools, businesses, organizations, and other city departments (including Code
Compliance and the Transportation and Public Works Department) to promote
awareness of the negative impacts of graffiti and to encourage alternative legal outlets
for this urban "art form."
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Code Blue
The Code Blue Program is an initiative in which police officers and residents work
together to assist in crime prevention and intervention. As part of the City's first
community policing initiative, Code Blue serves as a force multiplier and has been
instrumental in the significant reduction of crime. The Code Blue program serves as
the umbrella organization for all of the following groups: Citizens on Patrol Program
(COPs), Clergy and Police Alliance (CAPA), Code Blue at the School, Hispanic COP,
Ministers Against Crime (MAC), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT),
Citizens Police Academy (CPA), Citizens Police Academy Alumni (CPAA), and Teen
Academy.
The budget provides funding for civilian dispatchers specifically assigned to monitor the
Code Blue channels of FWPD's radio system, which converted to encrypted service
in 2013. Aside from the Code Blue and other interoperability channels, all police
channels were encrypted to provide officer safety, security, and privacy. All
telecommunication operators, including dispatchers and Code Blue base operators
are now required to be certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
(TCOLE). This changes the way in which the Code Blue base operators had
previously worked —in direct communication with Neighborhood Patrol Officers (NPOs)
within their assigned areas. The dispatchers are certified under the law and
communicate to volunteers exclusively on the dedicated Code Blue radio channels.
NPOs also monitor the Code Blue channels to stay apprised of events occurring within
their beat.
Crime Prevention Unit
The Crime Prevention Unit offers detailed crime prevention information and services to
the citizens of Fort Worth, with a focus on a citywide reductions of crime and
victimization. The Unit is comprised of six Crime Prevention Specialists, one located in
and providing services for each Patrol Division.
In an effort to increase public awareness and safety, the Crime Prevention Unit provides
various services through the City of Fort Worth, including but not limited to residential
and business security surveys and information is shared at crime watch meetings. In
addition, the Crime Prevention Unit visits schools, providing presentations that teach
children about stranger danger, bicycle safety and crime prevention practices. There are
opportunities to create child ID cards to provide assistance in missing child situation.
Other crime prevention techniques include VIN engraving, National Night Out, and
maintaining statistics regarding the activities of the Crime Prevention Unit.
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Police Storefronts
A variety of department operations are housed in leased police storefronts or small
office spaces --often times provided at low cost, with varying degrees of utility and
maintenance responsibility built into the lease. Neighborhood Patrol Officers and beat
officers utilize the storefronts to complete reports, assist the public with community
issues, and meet with community groups regarding crime within the immediate area of
the storefront. Code Blue, Crime Watch, and other community groups also use these
spaces for various meetings. CCPD funds are allocated towards storefront leases,
utilities, supplies, and other operating costs.
Community Programs
The Community Programs admin provides funding for four positions to oversee the
operations of the Code Blue program. The addition of these positions will assist in
expanding and coordinating the volunteer program activities while providing police
presence.
Community Service Officer Program
The FY21 budget provides funding for the creation of the Community Service Officer
Program - Pilot team of 10 nonsworn civilians to answer nonviolent calls for service.
The Community Service Officers will able to handle lower priority calls, which frees up
sworn officers to handle the emergency calls for service and focus more on crime
prevention. In addition, community/police relations improves with the interactions from
a Community Service Officer answering non-violent calls. It is a softer approach for the
community to receive basic police services such as completing reports, information
requests, and community concerns.
Crisis Intervention Team Program
In August of 2017, the Fort Worth Police Department created a Mental Health Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT) unit due to the growing need to respond to mental health calls.
The FY21 budget will provide expansion of Crisis Intervention Team partnerships to
allow mental health professionals to take the lead on calls involving persons in mental
crisis, when possible.
The unit is committed to constant devotion of self -betterment and increasing their
expertise as subject matter experts, constantly seeking out new training opportunities.
All members of the unit are TCOLE certified as Mental Health Peace Officers. Also, the
unit provides training for the department's recruit 40-hour CIT training, the new Sandra
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Bland Act 40-hour TCOLE intermediate and below licensee class, and the Mental
Health Peace Officer certification course.
Homeless Outreach Program Enforcement (HOPE) Program
The Homeless Outreach Program Enforcement Program provides funding for the
expansion of the existing HOPE. The primary mission of the HOPE Unit is to build a
rapport within the homeless community, maintain a positive police impact by way of
service connections, and instill a sense of self-worth in those considered chronically
homeless. The HOPE Unit responds to unhoused individuals living in alternative
situations such as encampments, streets or vacant structures and serves as the bridge
between the homeless population, law enforcement, emergency medical services and
other private agencies to coordinate outreach to those in need.
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PARTNERS WITH A SHARED MISSION
After School Program
Research suggests that academic success is a significant factor in reducing and
preventing juvenile crime. In addition, studies suggest that adolescents are at a higher
risk of being a victim of crime or committing a criminal act on a school day between
3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m..
Four independent school districts receive funding in support of after school programs
including Fort Worth, Crowley, Keller, and White Settlement. These programs include
academic activities, sports, recreation, and community service. In FY20, funding was
provided to further develop and sustain the Fort Worth Police Athletic League through
sports, mentorship programs, and an Academic Excellence partnership with FWISD.
The CCPD funds can be expended on personnel costs (including benefits), supplies,
equipment, and other contractual services as outlined in each awarded agency's
budget summary. The organizations must submit reports to FWPD staff that outline
fund expenditures and performance results prior to reimbursement.
Safe Haven Youth Program — Bethlehem
The Safe Haven Youth Program at the Bethlehem Center is a prevention program
operated by the United Community Center (UCC) that provides a safe environment for
after school programming for at -risk children and youth. The program's central purpose
is to provide educational enrichment and youth development programs that lead to
improved behavior, academic performance, social skills, and better citizenship. They
support academic success, healthy development, and build resilience. The outcomes
in turn create and strengthen protective factors believed to encourage positive decision
making. During the course of the year, a typical participant will spend more than 430
hours in the program participating in cultural, sport, and educational activities. This
promotes self-esteem by developing positive personal and academic behaviors. This
provides for an in-depth and extended intervention in a gang free zone and away from
dysfunctional homes.
Children who come to the Bethlehem Center meet poverty level guidelines and display
the typical needs of low-income families. Many of these children come from single
parent households. Children and youth participating in the Safe Haven Youth Program
at Bethlehem primarily live in the 76104 zip code.
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Safe Haven Youth Program - Martin
The Safe Haven Youth program at the Martin Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Greater Tarrant County provides high quality afterschool and summer programming to
youth ages 6-18 in the Polytechnic area. Programming is focused on three key
outcomes: Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Character/Citizenship. The
priority is the safety and well-being of all youth that are served every day, and ensuring
that each member has an optimal Club experience. Program staff provides quality
enrichment programs in dedicated rooms at the Martin Boys & Girls Club site, including
the education room, computer room, gym, social recreation area, art room, and teen
room. Some of the services include alcohol/drug prevention programs, cultural
enrichment activities, education enhancement activities and recreational activities.
FW@6 Late Night Program
The FW@6 Late Night Program began in 1992 as a response to the increase in gang -
involved youth, providing support for afternoon and evening activities. Programs
include afterschool and youth sports as well as extended hours for older youth and
young adults. The program provides a safe haven for at -risk youth living in high crime
areas. These programs decrease youth participation in crime and gangs through
enrichment and recreational activities. They are designed to reduce crime, stimulate
self-determination, and increase community pride. The programs are operated at the
following five community centers: Como, Martin Luther King, Northside, Sycamore, and
Worth Heights. The FW@6 Late Night Program focuses on the following five goals,
which provide alternatives to youth involvement in crime: Education/Personal
Development, Employment Readiness, Recreation, Life Skills and Community
Responsibility.
Comin' Up Gang Intervention Program
The Comin' Up Gang Intervention Program provides intervention services to gang -
involved youth between the ages of 13 and 24. This program provides access
to programs and services to help youth avoid negative and destructive behaviors.
The CCPD funds six Comin' Up Gang Intervention Program sites, including Diamond
Hill, Hillside, Near Southside (Panther), Northside, Poly, Las Vegas Trail, and Stop Six.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth operate all of these programs. The
CCPD provides the Comin' Up Gang Intervention program with staff and
supplies to serve approximately 2,300 youth nightly Monday through Friday.
Program staff develops truces between rival gangs by working directly with gang
leaders to assist with conflict resolution, provide information and referral services,
and crisis intervention to diffuse potentially troubling or violent situations.
Family Justice Center (One Safe Place)
The Family Justice Center, also known as One Safe Place, brings together a multi -
agency task force under one roof, to provide coordinated services to victims of
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domestic violence and their children. It is anticipated that One Safe Place will lead to
significant increases in successful criminal prosecution and civil legal solutions and
reductions in repeat incidents and homicides.
One Safe Place partners have an integrated, seamless approach to service in a
welcoming, victim -focused, and survivor -driven environment. Beyond serving
survivors, One Safe Place will strive to create a new social consciousness in the
community about violence affecting families through education, training, and research.
The Crime Control and Prevention District contributes funding for the operation of
the One Safe Place facility. One Safe Place is required to submit reports to the
FWPD on data generated by the multi -agency task force and a yearend summary report
that highlights accomplishments..
Crime Prevention Agency Partnership (Safe City Commission)
The CCPD provides support for the Crime Prevention Agency Partnership. Since the
District's inception, the two primary focus areas are the Safe City Commission
Advocacy Program and the Crime Stopper Call Center.
The Crime Prevention Agency Partnership: Advocacy Program provides the Safe City
Commission with resources for crime prevention public education materials and
training opportunities for law enforcement, social service providers, and citizens. The
Crime Prevention Agency Partnership Call Center Program improves efficiency of
the dissemination of the tip information to all 37 municipalities and all 18 school districts
in Tarrant County through the operation of an in-house tip call center. The CCPD
provides wages to agency staff involved in advocacy efforts and part-time staff to
operate the Call Center seven days a week.
Community -Based Programs
The CCPD provides financial support for crime prevention or intervention programs of
local, registered non-profit agencies. These programs are to supplement the current
crime prevention strategies funded by the District. These programs must address at
least one of the following goals: reduce violent crime and gang related activities, support
efforts to increase the safety of residents and to support effort to increase the safety of
youth as well as reduce juvenile crime through crime prevention and intervention
programs.
Agencies submit proposals to FWPD, outlining the details of their crime prevention
programs, including a project overview, budget summary, outcomes, and activity
measures. Agencies are encouraged to integrate evidence -informed strategies and
describe how their project impacts the District's mission.
All proposals are reviewed and scored by a committee. The Scoring Committee makes
recommendations to the CCPD Board, and programs are awarded funding on a
competitive basis based on the amount of funds allocated towards community -based
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programming each fiscal year. Not all applicants are guaranteed to receive the CCPD
funding.
The CCPD funds can be expended on personnel costs (including benefits), travel,
supplies, equipment, contracts/consultants and indirect costs as laid out in each
awarded agency's budget summary. Indirect costs cannot exceed 10 percent of the
funds requested in the total program budget. Awarded agencies must submit monthly
reports to FWPD staff that outline fund expenditures and performance results prior to
reimbursement.
Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU)
Partnership with Alliance for Children
The Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) of the FWPD is co -located at the Fort Worth
Alliance for Children Center. The advantage to this partnership is that FWPD and the
Alliance for Children can effectively meet the mission of this program by being in close
proximity to other investigators and professionals. These include Child Protective
Services, the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, and Alliance for Children. Since
1992, well over 44,000 children have been served by the center.
Alliance For Children partners with 28 Tarrant County law enforcement agencies, the
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Cook Children's® Medical Center,
JPS Health Network, Tarrant County Juvenile Services, and the Tarrant County Criminal
District Attorney's Office. These agencies work together to reduce trauma to child abuse
victims during an investigation and to improve their agencies' responses to children who
are often frightened and hurting. As a result of the collaboration, investigators and
detectives are able to complete investigations in a timelier fashion, cases are stronger
for prosecution, and children and protective caregivers are more likely to benefit from
available services.
The CCPD provides the Alliance for Children funding to support two Multidisciplinary
Team coordinators as well as the operating cost of the CACU being housed at the Fort
Worth Alliance for Children Center.
New/Enhanced Programs
In FY21, the CCPD budget provides for additional funding in the Partners with a Shared
Mission Initiative for program expansion/enhancement. The intent is for Police
command staff and City management to coordinate with elected officials and community
stakeholders to develop new services can be added or existing services might be
expanded to increase innovation and further the goals of this initiative and crime control
and prevention overall. Command staff engaged community stakeholders in February,
who are in the process of developing a community -based, evidence -informed
programmatic approach to crime and safety issues.
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RECRUITMENT and TRAINING
Recruit Officer Training
The Recruit Officer Training program provides the necessary training and equipment
for new and lateral transfer police officers to work in the field. The Police Department
routinely analyzes the appropriate number of recruits needed to avoid personnel
shortages throughout the Department and to ensure that all of the CCPD components
remain fully staffed. All costs for personnel training have been funded through the CCPD
since FY1998.
The FWPD training academy operates on a 36-week schedule, training recruits on
best practices and curricula based on Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
(TCOLE). This includes legal procedures, federal, state, and local laws, and physical
fitness. Other training also includes defensive and control tactics, TASER electronic
conducting devices, police driving, and a variety of community service and
communication -oriented classes. It also trains recruits on policies and standards
specific to the FWPD.
The CCPD funds all costs of recruit training. This includes all equipment for training
as well as equipment issued to officers upon graduation. I n FY21, there are funds
budgeted for one recruit training class.
Expanded Training Staff
This program funds officers who provide basic training for recruits, including pistol and
shotgun qualification, as well as familiarization with the patrol carbine. In-service
officers are provided carbine and shotgun training. These officers work as a part of a
training team that provides opportunities to both recruits and in-service officers.
New Officer Recruitment
There are three focus areas in the New Officer Recruitment Program. The first is
to fund recruitment materials, advertising and travel in order to recruit and hire diverse
personnel. In an effort to reflect the demographics of the city, recruiting efforts are
occurring in historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), Hispanic service
institutions (HSI), women's colleges and universities, and universities with highly -
regarded criminal justice programs. Recruiting is nationwide and includes all branches
of the military, minority organizations and other regional police academies.
The second area of the program provides funding for the Fort Worth Explorer Program,
which is committed to developing the life skills and career path of Fort Worth's youth.
Explorers are taught the importance of higher education and self-discipline in reaching
their goals. They are encouraged to seek law enforcement as an attainable and
attractive career choice. Several Explorer Program participants have become Fort
Worth Police Officers or have entered the law enforcement field.
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The third area of the program provides funding for new recruit background
evaluations. In a typical year, budget includes funding for recruiting and testing tools
as well as psychological evaluations, polygraph examinations and physical
assessments.
Cadet Program
The Police Cadet program provides funds to hire high school seniors and college
students who are interested in becoming a Fort Worth police officer. They are paid a
salary, provided a uniform, and placed within different divisions of the department.
Accommodations are made for class schedules. This program was suspended in FY12
and is being reinstated, for a total of twenty cadets, recognizing the diversity and
recruiting value cadets have in the department. The FY21 budget also includes funding
for one Sergeant position to oversee the program.
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EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, and INFRASTRUCTURE
High Mileage Vehicle Replacement
The Police Department formulated a vehicle replacement plan that would allow the
modernization of the fleet with the goal of no assigned patrol car to have more than
100,000 miles. To maintain this plan, it is necessary to consistently purchase
replacement vehicles and move higher -mileage cars to units that have less demanding
operational needs. The replacement plan focuses on the front-line patrol vehicles as
these are operated around -the -clock with very little downtime.
Another component of this program is the procurement of unmarked, undercover, and
specialized vehicles as needed for police operations.
Jail Cost Allocation
The FWPD does not operate a local municipal jail and has contracted with external
entities for detention services since 2006. As of January 2018, the Tarrant County
Sheriff's Office began taking custody of all persons arrested for felonies, Class A and
Class B misdemeanors upon a probable cause determination from a City Magistrate.
This procedure change caused a marked difference in the number of prisoners moved
directly to TCSO versus being transported to Mansfield. Due to this change, the FWPD
renegotiated a new contract for jail services, and the FY21 budget is adjusted for this
contract amount.
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Technology Infrastructure
The Technology Infrastructure program is a critical resource for the FWPD, as it
provides funding for printers, servers, scanners, technology contracts and software
enhancements that support the mission and initiatives of the FWPD. The
Technology Infrastructure keeps pace with technological advancements that are key in
assisting with intelligence led policing initiatives to reduce crime, as well as support
overall departmental operations and strategic plan initiatives.
Due to technological advancements, the Police Department replaces computers based
on a three-year life cycle. I n conjunction with the city's IT Solutions Department, the
FWPD is continuing to implement the Refresh Plan by replacing eligible computers on
an annual basis. The FY21 budget includes funding for computer refreshes in addition
to technology O&M and approved capital projects.
DNA Crime Lab Support
The DNA Crime Lab Support program assists in expanding the services provided by
the FWPD Crime Laboratory. This program was initiated in order to reduce processing
time and create greater case efficiencies in violent crime investigations. FWPD's DNA
Unit holds ASCLD/LAB and Texas Department of Safety accreditation and is able to
process DNA cases in-house. Having the DNA Unit allows the FWPD to seek
additional grant funding and potentially other revenue sources from other agencies.
Motorcycle Replacement
The Traffic -Motors Division is responsible for traffic enforcement throughout the
entire city. The division is also responsible for dignitary escorts, traffic flow, and
counter flow for special events. Each motorcycle is assigned to a specific officer, and is
set up to meet each officer's specifications, including his/her height and reach in
order to correctly fit their motorcycle. The CCPD funding of the Motorcycle
Replacement Program allows for proper motorcycle rotations, which should not
exceed six years or 60,000 miles. Additionally, this program allows the retention of
motorcycles that have exceeded the mileage and are deemed the most reliable.
These motorcycles will be retained for use as spares in training and normal operations
when a motorcycle is wrecked or in the shop for scheduled maintenance. Approved
program funding and the established vehicle rotation schedule will ensure and optimize
officer safety, operational costs, and resale value.
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Mobile Data Computers
Mobile Data Computer (MDC) technology enables patrol units to connect to law
enforcement databases, offering officers instant access to information about the area
for which they are assigned to patrol. MDCs are typically rugged -style laptops meant
to withstand the constant use and stresses of patrolling the city.
The FY21 budget is based on maintaining and replacing damaged or destroyed
systems to ensure operational effectiveness, providing air cards for the MDCs and
continuing a phased replacement of MDCs.
Police Officer Safety Equipment
The Police Officer Safety Equipment program provides funding for body cameras. This
also funds the storage of data and video images captured with officer body cameras.
Videos captured through the body cameras are uploaded to a secure digital evidence
storage system, where they can be easily stored, retrieved, and shared. This protects
the video evidence from tampering and catalogs each event for easy retrieval and
evidence management.
The Police Officer Safety Equipment program also enables the FWPD to purchase and
equip officers with a non -lethal electronic control device used to subdue suspects.
Tasers, much like other police equipment, have a finite useful life and need to be
replaced according to a set schedule. Having fully functional Tasers will reduce the
number of officer -incurred injuries, thereby reducing the medical expenses and the
liability associated with use -of -force situations. The FY21 budget includes continued
funding for the contract for body cameras and Tasers.
Digital Cameras for Vehicle Replacement
Digital in -car video systems are a critical component of the police department's
operational needs. These systems provide evidence of potential criminal activity, limit
the civil liabilities of officers, and document officer behavior during interactions with the
public. FWPD currently operates in -car video systems in marked police vehicles,
including all front-line patrol vehicles, Traffic Division DWI units, Commercial Vehicle
Enforcement units, and vehicles assigned to the SRT teams.
The Digital Cameras for Vehicle Replacement program funding is critical for the
purchase and replacement of digital video systems and related equipment. The FY21
budget includes continued funding for the phased replacement of in -car video systems,
which are bundled together as a safety package with body cameras and Tasers.
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Police Radio System
The City of Fort Worth is in the process of upgrading its public safety radio system used
by Police, Fire, and other departments. The current system, installed in 1992, is
experiencing reliability, capacity, and coverage area issues directly related to its age
and city growth. Current generation infrastructure and radios are fully supported by the
manufacturer and has increased emergency capacity using a citywide public works
radio system.
The CCPD made a $5,000,000 payment and financed the residual $28,686,233. The
police radio system balance was financed alongside other non-FWPD radio costs
through the City of Fort Worth. Any savings and interest associated with this project will
revert to the CCPD upon the closure of the project at a rate of 61 percent of the total
balance. The FY21 budget includes the scheduled debt service payment for the radio
system.
Citywide Camera Program
This Citywide Camera Program provides funding for the multi -year neighborhood
camera project. The Police Department recently invested approximately $900,000 for
cameras that have, and will continue to be, installed in strategic areas through the City
of Fort Worth, such as the historic Stop Six neighborhood, in an effort to aid in public
safety and neighborhood revitalization, as well as other popular areas within the city,
such as the West 7th St corridor.
Crime Lab Equipment
This Crime Lab Equipment program was instituted to provide a schedule for replacing
aging equipment.
Adjustments
This line allows for budgetary adjustments in the CCPD Fund for allocations from the City
from Risk Management.
Contribution to Fund Balance
This line shows the amount by which budgeted revenue exceeds budgeted expenditures,
thereby growing the fund balance of the CCPD fund. These funds will be slated for capital
projects.
Revised 8/9/2020