Page 205 - FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget Book

Police

Bobby LaPenna, Chief of Police

The Bedford Police Department provides leadership and support to all members of the public, as well as all
Police personnel through fiscal responsibility and modeling of the City's values. The Department is committed
to strengthening and maintaining an atmosphere of community partnership, providing transparency to the
citizens, supporting continued training and leadership development of personnel, and providing opportunities
for career growth and employee retention. The Department employs 115 full-time employees and 4 part-time
employees: 80 full-time sworn and 2 part-time sworn, and 35 full-time non-sworn and 2 part-time non-sworn
and is organized into four primary Bureaus: Administration, Operations, Technical Services, and Support
Services.

The Bedford Police Department’s primary responsibilities include patrol operations, emergency response,
criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, accident response, crime prevention, community engagement, and
administrative support functions necessary to sustain effective law enforcement operations. The department
supports ongoing training, equipment replacement, communications capability, records management, and
other operational requirements that enable staff to respond safely and effectively to service demands.

The Department prioritizes maintaining adequate staffing levels, supporting recruitment and retention efforts,
investing in officer readiness and wellness, and sustaining reliable fleet, technology, and equipment resources.
Particular emphasis is placed on preserving response capability, meeting mandated training and certification
requirements, and ensuring the Department can adapt to changing service demands, crime patterns, and
community expectations.

The Department participates in regionalized teams such as the Northeast Tarrant County Area SWAT Team
(NETCAST), the Mid-Cities Drug Task Force, Combined Reconstruction and Accident Specialist of Hurst
Euless-Bedford (CRASH) and partners with the Cities of Euless and Hurst for Mental Health and Crime Victim
resources. While the primary focus of the Department is to ensure a safe environment for residents and
businesses, several programs and services exist to address community needs and foster partnerships with the
community. Programs designed to promote positive relationships are the Citizens Police Academy, Volunteers
in Policing Service (VIPS), Police Explorers Post 2121 and the Social Media Program. Services offered to
assist the community and address challenges include the Bedford Citizen Observation Program (BCOP),
Senior Care Call Program, Safe Return Program, Santa Cops, the Safe Exchange Zone, Vacation House
Watch, the fostering program through the Animal Shelter and the Behavioral Intervention Unit.

The Bedford Police Department reaffirms its commitment to effective service delivery, transparency,
measurable performance, and sound stewardship of public funds. Department leadership will continue to
evaluate operational outcomes, resource needs, and community priorities to ensure the department supports
both immediate public safety responsibilities and long-term organizational sustainability.

FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget Book · September 15, 2026 201