Page 285 - N. Richland Hills General Budget

Police
Who we are

The Police Department’s mission is to work in partnership with our citizens to maintain a safe, peaceful community by
providing excellence in all police services. We strive to improve and evolve as a department, to be innovative and
proactive in addressing crime, and to strengthen our connection to the community we serve. We are dedicated to the
highest standards of ethics and integrity while preserving and protecting life and property.

What do we do

1 Provide patrol and traffic services 5 Investigate reports of crime
2 Provide emergency communications for the 4 partner 6 Maintain positive working relationships w/ the media
agencies by remaining accessible & transparent
3 Operate city jail for the 4 partner agencies 7 Maintain specialized units for critical police responses

4 Engage community in crime awareness 8 Maintain compliance with Texas Law Enforcement Best
and prevention Practices
Council Priorities

x Quality Community Development & Revitalization x Sense of Community
x Efficient & Effective Transportation System Targeted Economic Development
x Safety and Security x Local & Regional Leadership
Financial Stability x Efficient & Effective Delivery of City Services
x Positive City Image

FY 2019-20 Top Accomplishments

 The Traffic Safety Initiative will focus on improving traffic safety of all who travel within or through the City of
North Richland Hills. Our vision is a community with zero traffic fatalities while striving to continuously reduce
traffic crashes and injuries. We will achieve safe and efficient movement of the growing traffic upon our roadways
through innovation and focused enforcement efforts.
 A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is a facility equipped and staffed to receive 911 calls from all partner cities.
The North Richland Hills Police Department has created a redundancy in the form of a backup PSAP equipped to
provide continuous services in the event the primary PSAP is inoperable. The backup PSAP was staffed for a
disaster preparedness exercise where all operations were transitioned from the primary to the backup center
without diminishing the level of service provided.
 Numerous school safety enhancements to include 100% officer access to schools, access to school camera systems
district wide, detailed school maps created, marking school entry and exits, installation of lock down buttons in
multiple locations, and numerous lock down drills at each school. In addition, the department's notification system
involving students engaged in criminal activity was streamlined so the district could utilize those notifications to
determine the need for further risk assessments at their level.

 The North Richland Hills Police Department in a joint effort with the Tarrant County 911 district are working to
deploy text to 911 technology this year. This provides citizens the ability to reach 911 operators via their mobile
phone or device. Persons with disabilities and those in situations where it is not safe to make a voice call, can soon
text for help.
 In 2019 the police department received 8 grants from 4 funding sources totaling $1,981,132. The grants fund 3 full
time civilian positions who provide services to crime victims and 1 full time sworn position that focuses on violent
crimes against women, and one part time grant coordinator. In addition to personnel, funds have also been
awarded for safety equipment, technological upgrades, crash reduction enforcement, and gang violence.

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