Page 27 - Microsoft Word - FY 2020 Adopted Budget Document

Business Plan

The Police Department (APD) is responsible for public safety
through a variety of citizen outreach efforts, education, and
enforcement activities. Relationships are the cornerstone of how the
department interacts with community members to achieve desired
public safety outcomes.

In 2018, APD ranked 1 Place nationally based upon the overall
st
quality of the National Night Out activities, neighborhood
participation, and police involvement. National Night Out is an
important component to the department’s community policing
philosophy to create more engaged and stronger neighborhoods.

Advancing the department’s goal of reaching younger audiences include various mentoring and partnership programs design to
enhance trust with youth. Some of the mentoring opportunities include Coach 5-0, Youth Explorer Program, Hometown
Recruiting, and Mentoring Arlington Youth (MAY). The department’s mentoring programs encourage the collaboration between
our officers and Arlington’s youth, providing invaluable mentorship to those that represent the future of our community. The MAY
Program which pairs mentors with at-risk junior high students graduated its first female class in 2018, made possible by our
community partnership with the Junior League of Arlington.

The department’s partnership with the community extends to the vital contribution of many individuals that serve as volunteers.
Citizens on Patrol, Sky Watch Towers, Hispanic Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, and the Dog Walker Watch
Program are just a few of the many volunteering opportunities available for all ages and backgrounds to those who want to
make a difference by partnering with the department.

Geographic policing is the way law enforcement services are provided in
Arlington. The underlying goal is for officers to know their residents and build
healthy relationships in the community through assignments in specified
geographic areas or beats in the city. Coffee with a Cop is a unique way for
residents to connect with officer in a non-traditional way. Our Victim Services
Unit has also adopted geographic structure in order to meet the needs of
Arlington residents.

Keeping its promise for increased transparency and accountability, the
department continues to equip officers with state-of-the-art body-worn
cameras that seamlessly integrate with uniforms. The department also upgraded its vehicles and interview rooms with new
cameras that streamline evidence collection, classification, retention, and sharing processes into one digital evidence system
essential to modern police operations.

Recruiting exceptional applicants that reflect the diversity of the community is a top priority of the department. Since July 2012,
60% of all academy classes represent either a racial or gender protected class going back to Academy Class 45. Additionally,
25% of hired candidates were female. The national average of
women in policing is 12%.

Consistent with the department’s high expectations, the department
will continue its compliance with the Commission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement (CALEA), a national accreditation the department
proudly holds since 1989.

2020 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 14 City of Arlington, Texas