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 FWPD West Division Newsletter
Holiday Edition
December 2024 Volume 2
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 Eighth Annual Shop with a COP event held Saturday December 14, 2024
Walmart at 9500 Clifford St. in West Fort Worth hosted the eighth annual Shop with a COP event. FWPD, as well as representatives from other law enforcement agencies, along with a large contingent of volunteers, worked together to make this a memorable day for the young shoppers and their families. In all, over 300 families were able to purchase Christmas gifts for members of their families. Officers and volunteers were involved in every phase of this special day, from shopping with the youngsters to wrapping the gifts, as depicted in the pictures below.
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West Division participates in COPS for Kids Teddy Bear Giveaway at Cook Children's.
Commander Ricks, Lt. Medders, Sgt. Owen, Sgt. Reinhardt, NPO Janzen (K17), NPO Villagomez (K11), and NPO Haddad (L19) participated in this year's Cook Children's Teddy Bear Giveaway. Also joining in the festivities were some Shops at Clearfork VIPs; Jeff Gomez, Director of Security; Chandler Wallace, Marketing Director; and “Margo,” our four-legged helper for the day. (see photo lower left)
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Fort Worth Civic Orchestra Holds Annual Teddy Bear Holiday Concert at Birchman Baptist Church
On Saturday, December 14th, the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra held its annual Teddy Bear Holiday Concert at Birchman Baptist Church.
Admission to the concert was paid for by donating a stuffed animal. The Fort Worth Civic Orchestra has partnered with the Fort Worth Police Department for many years and donated all the stuffed animals to the Department to use on calls where children may be victims or traumatized.
The donations have been so overwhelming that the Fort Worth Police Department has partnered with Tarrant County Alliance for Children (AFC) to receive most of the stuffed animals for their organization. Alliance For Children is the only Tarrant County non-profit organization involved directly in the protection from child abuse through coordinated and teamed investigations with local law enforcement agencies, Cook Children’s Medical Center, JPS Health Network, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Tarrant County Juvenile Services and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. At Alliance for Children, their goal is to minimize the trauma of the abuse so that children and families can begin to heal.
NPO Grinalds (L16) attended the concert and accepted all the donated stuffed animals on behalf of the Fort Worth Police Department and Tarrant County Alliance for Children. On Monday, December 16th, NPO Grinalds delivered the donated stuffed animals to AFC. Molly Kulpa thankfully accepted the donated stuffed animals.
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B'nai B'rith hosts Superheroes Luncheon for West Division officers.
On December 5th, police officers at Fort Worth’s West Division enjoyed a special day when they received a meal and desert treats provided by members of B’nai B’rith, the Fort Worth Jewish social service community organization.
The Lodge brought food for 100 officers for all three shifts to enjoy.
West Division Commander Stefanie Ricks told the volunteers, “We’re proud to work in a community where we receive such an outpouring of support and recognition from groups like B’nai B’rith.”
Lt. Matthew Medders (King District), Sgt. Phillip Reinhardt, Lt. Stephen Hodges (Lincoln District), Sgt. Joel Stary and Neighborhood Police Officer Lana Janzen also joined in welcoming the lodge members.
NPO Janzen covers the area where Congregation Ahavath Sholom, Beth-El Congregation, and the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County are located. This area has many citizens who are members of these organizations. NPO Janzen coordinated the event and was recognized for her strong working relationship with the Jewish community.
“We very much appreciate the work our Fort Worth police officers do every day of the year to protect our neighbors,” said Rich Hollander, President of the B’nai B’rith Lodge. He conveyed as much to the individual officers by adding, “Your sacrifices often go unnoticed, and we know that your colleagues are willing to risk their lives to keep us safe. Providing food for 100 hardworking police officers is just a small way we can show our gratitude.”
The West Division police officers are the seventh group of first responders to be honored with food and kind words of appreciation from the Tarrant County B’nai B’rith Isadore Garsek Lodge. The 148-year-old lodge is one of the most active in the United States and has often been cited nationally for their dedication to improving the quality of life in their community.
B’nai B’rith members delivering meals were:
Rich and Terri Hollander
Bruce Miller
Joe Mintz
Alex Nason
Jim Stanton
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2024 Year in Review
In 2024, West Division Crime Prevention coordinated and/or participated in over 60 events. The annual Community Safety Fair, the Kia Ignition Switch Upgrade, Coffee with a COP, Back the Blue, Cones with a COP, Cookies with a COP, National Night Out, and the Adaptive Fall Festival are just some of the events that were held for the residents of West Fort Worth. When it comes to teaching and education, residents had the opportunity to attend presentations to learn how to avoid frauds and scams, internet safety, and other crime prevention-related topics by attending a presentation that HOAs, NAs, or businesses hosted. For residents who live in multifamily dwellings, Safety Socials were another means for residents to learn about crime prevention. Lessons on crime prevention were held for children and students at All Saints Episcopal School, Founders Classical Academy, and Luella Merritt School.
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Annual COP Christmas luncheon held at Dickie's Arena
As part of an annual holiday tradition, COP members from throughout the city gathered at Dickie's Arena on December 7, 2024, to enjoy a delicious meal and have the opportunity to win fabulous prizes. Westpoint/Chapel Creek COP Captain Bob Bienski was recognized as the West Division COP Patroller of the Year. This is the second year in a row that Bob has won the award.
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The Twelve Days of Safety
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Better Business Bureau
The 12 scams of the holidays
When shopping or donating this holiday season, watch out for schemes trying to swipe your cash or steal your personal information.
You can avoid most of the scams on this list by taking a few simple precautions. Always exercise caution with social media ads promoting discounted items, holiday events, job opportunities, and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers. If you are asked to make a payment or donation by wire transfer, through a third party, or by prepaid debit or gift card, treat it as a red flag.
Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer
1. Misleading social media ads:
As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised.
Always research before you buy. BBB Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.
The 2023 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the third riskiest scam reported by consumers in 2023.
Before ordering, check out the business profile on BBB.org and read the reviews.
Read more about misleading ads, free trial offers, and counterfeit goods.
2. Social media gift exchanges:
Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. The older version was called "Secret Sister." Newer versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another twist asks you to submit your email to a list where participants get to pick a name and send money to strangers to "pay it forward." There is even a twist about "Secret Santa Dog" where you buy a $10 gift for your "secret dog."
In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. It's also an illegal pyramid scheme. Stick to buying your friends gifts from trustworthy businesses, and check BBB.org before you buy.
Read more about the social media gift exchange scams.
3. Holiday apps:
Apple's App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists.
Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware. Be sure to read reviews as well.
Read more about holiday apps.
4. Fake toll collection texts:
If you’re planning to drive a long distance to visit family or take a vacation this holiday season, watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year.
In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee and provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive at text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you may owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency.
Read more about fake road toll collection scams and travel scams.
5. Free gift cards:
Nothing brings good cheer like the word "FREE." Scammers have been known to take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize.
If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links.
Read more about gift card scams.
6. Temporary holiday jobs:
Employment scams were identified as the number one riskiest scam for people ages 18-44 in 2023. If you’re looking for seasonal work this holiday season, keep an eye out for opportunities that seem too good to be true.
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers because of the increase in online orders that need to be delivered before Christmas. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants.
Read more about holiday job scams and employment scams.
7. Impostor scams:
Impostor scams can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you may be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases, and sharing private information.
If you’re reaching out to a business on social media for customer support, watch out for fake social media accounts pretending to be a customer service representative for a business. When in doubt, go to the business’s website and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out.
Read more about impostor scams and how to identify a fake website.
8. Fake charities:
The last few weeks of the year are a busy time for charitable donations. Donors are advised to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need.
Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB's Give.org or on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.
Read more about fake charities.
9. Fake shipping notifications:
More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device.
They may also try to trick people into paying new shipping fees. Never click a link in a text or email that you’re not expecting. If you want to track a package, find the original email or text confirmation you received directly from the store and use that link.
Read more about fake delivery texts and delivery and package scams.
11. Holiday wishlist items:
Low-priced luxury goods, jewelry, designer clothing, and electronics are almost always cheap counterfeits and knockoffs. The same applies to popular toys. This year, the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll, Barbies, Bluey toys, and brain teasers and puzzles are some of the items in high demand. Be very cautious when considering purchasing popular toys from resellers on Facebook Marketplace and other platforms.
Read more about holiday hot toy scams and online purchase scams.
12. Puppy scams:
Many families may be considering adding a furry friend to their household this year. However, be on the lookout for scams. Many would-be pet owners turn to the internet to find their future cat or dog, but experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake. Be sure to see the pet in person before making a purchase.
Read more on pet scams.
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By having the Neighborhood Patrol Officers dedicated to specific geographic areas, the officers are not only able to become more familiar with the area than regular patrol officers, but they are also able to serve as a resource for and get to know area residents and business owners, learn about neighborhood concerns, and build working relationships with area Citizen on Patrol volunteers to work hand-in-hand in reducing neighborhood crime and promoting crime prevention tools.
Primary Duties:
- Work with crime analysts to identify crime trends within assigned neighborhoods, maintain open lines of communication with detectives, and assist the Information Management Section and supervisors in planning appropriate actions to address issues.
- Foster positive community leadership as a means to empower citizens within their neighborhoods by encouraging involvement in Citizens on Patrol, Citizen Police Academy, and Crime Watch to work collaboratively to reduce crime and promote crime prevention tools.
- Maintain open lines of communication between residents, business owners and the police department by attending community meetings and events, including neighborhood association and other community meetings.
- Recruit Citizen on Patrol volunteers, schedule them for training, and provide on-going training and correspondence to encourage and retain active memberships.
Enter your address on http://oneaddress.fortworthtexas.gov/ You will find your BEAT and NPO assigned as well as your nearest City Facilities, Services, and Crime Data.
211 Texas
Connecting People and Services
No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905, and find information about resources in your local community. Whether you need help finding food or housing, child care, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment, one number is all you need to know.
NPO Roster
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The FWPD West Division Newsletter has gone digital.
To sign up for the newsletter, you have the option to scan the QR code to your right or you can press the subscribe button below.
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