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Home My WebLink AboutIR 10686 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS Purpose The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information of the demographic make-up of the Fort Worth Police Department specialized units. Diversity Numbers of Undercover Units and Discussion The demographic make up the sworn membersof the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) are 63 percent white, 22 percent Hispanic/Latino, 10 percent African American/black, and 2 percent Asian (FWPD Demographics/Diversity Report, June 30, 2021). 13 percent of the sworn members of the FWPD are female. Diversity in race and gender is something that is not only desired for undercover units but necessary for operational purposes. Undercover operations require the availability of officers who are from a specific race, gender or community in order to be successful. With the implementation of the “Be the Change” diversity initiative over the past couple of academy classes, the department hopes that the make-up of the specialized units will change over time. The department understands the need to continue make progress in this area. Postings for positions are made city-wide and give ample time for anyone to respond. According to General Orders, each unit must conduct an “open house” session where applicants can learn about the activities and operations ofthe unit. Officers are sometimes allowed to go “on-loan” to the unit for a period of time to expose them to the work involved. Furthermore, all interview panels are required to be diverse. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS Unless absolutely essential, specialized units have not been allowed to fill vacancies for the past year or so. The Patrol Bureau is short 48 officers (as of 08/30/2021) and the most essential elements of the police function are answering calls for service and investigating offenses, so filling those vacancies must have priority above others. The Various Undercover Units –Applicants and Selection The information provided below details the minimum requirements for each specialized unit and the demographics of the vacancy applicants and selections for each unit for at least the past two years. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Minimum Requirements 1.Two years continuous service as a commissioned FWPD officer. 2.No sustained excessive force complaints in the past five (5) years. 3.An average score of 95 or higher over the past three departmental handgun qualifications. 4.Meet all exercise standards on the physical fitness test (based on Cooper Clinic standards –more fit than 95% of population) a.Vertical jump (18 inches or more) b.Sit-ups in one minute (35 or more) c.Push-ups inone minute (28 or more) d.Bench press one repetition (85% of body weight) e.300-meter run (63 seconds or less) f.1.5-mile run (14:36 or less) 5.One-day scenario-based assessment test. Below are the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the pastfour years for SWAT. There were 34 applicants and 13 were selected. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 3of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS Criminal Tracking Unit (CTU) Minimum Requirements 1.Two years as commissioned FWPD officer. 2.No sustained excessive force complaints in the past five (5) years. 3.Meet the requirements of the physical fitness test (based on Cooper Clinic standards –more fit than 70% of population –same requirements as the Directed Response Unit and academy graduates). a.Vertical jump (16 inches or higher) b.Push-ups in one minute (24 or more) c.Bench press one repetition (75% of body weight) d.Sit-ups in one minute (29 or more) e.300-meter run (71 seconds or less) f.1.5-mile run (16:28 or less) Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for CTU. There were 23 applicants and only 4 were selected. Narcotics The Narcotics section is broken down into various units. The three (3) Tactical Narcotics Teams do “knock and talks,” street-level buys, surveillance, and other narcotic-related duties. TheHigh Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) officers are Task Force Officers (TFOs) who work as special agents with the FBI. The Narcotics section also has TFOs working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Taskforce and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Taskforce. Minimum Requirements 1.HIDTA a.At least seven years as commissioned FWPD officer. b.No sustained excessive force complaints or moral turpitude misconduct that can prevent Federal Court testimony. c.Oral interview board. d.Federal background check for minimum secret clearance. e.Practical exercises which included scenarios. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 4of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS 2.Tactical Narcotics Team a.At least three years as commissioned FWPD officer. b.Oral interview board. c.Practical exercises which included scenarios. Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for the HIDTA unit. There were 3applicants and all 3were selected. Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for the Tactical Narcotics Teams. There were 10applicants and 3were selected. Gang Minimum Requirements 1.At least 2 years as commissioned FWPD officer. 2.No sustained excessive force complaints in the past five (5) years. 3.Meet the requirements of the physical fitness test (based on Cooper Clinic standards –more fit than 70% of population –same requirements as the Directed Response Unit and academy grads) a.Vertical jump (16 inches or higher) b.Push-ups in one minute (24 or more) c.Sit-ups in one minute (29 or more) d.300-meter run (71 seconds or less) e.1.5-mile run (16:28 or less) 4.Practical exercises including scenarios. 5.Oral interview board. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 5of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for the Gangsection. There were 39applicants and 12were selected. Vice Minimum Requirements 1.At least 2 years as commissioned FWPD officer. 2.Oral interview board. 3.Practical exercises including scenarios. Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for the Vice unit. There were 15applicants and 3were selected. Fugitive Minimum Requirements 1.At least 5 years as commissioned FWPD officer. 2.At least 90 percent on the past twohandgun qualifications. 3.A successful departmental Physical Activity Test (PAT) during the last year. 4.No sustained excessive force complaints in the past five (5) years. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSNo. 21-10686 October 12, 2021 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 6of 6 SUBJECT: FWPD SPECIAL UNITS DEMOGRAPHICS Below is a chart showing the demographics of vacancy applicants and selections over the past two (2) years for the Fugitive unit. There were 36 totalapplicants and 3were selected. If you have any questions please contact Assistant Chief Joseph Sparrow at 817-392-4231 or Joseph.Sparrow@fortworthtexas.gov. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS