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August 2025
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Community members can meet and hear from the three finalists for City of Fort Worth police chief. The city will hold a public forum Thursday, Aug. 14, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Fort Worth Trail. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the forum online on Fort Worth Television (FWTV). Through Aug. 8, you can also suggest questions to be asked at the forum. The link to submit questions is bit.ly/FWPD-chief-forum. “I’m very pleased with the diversity, depth and caliber of candidates who expressed interest in this important role,” said City Manager Jay Chapa. A final choice is expected late this summer to replace former Chief Neil Noakes, who retired in May.
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In its second quarter crime report, the Fort Worth Police Department reported a 14.3% reduction in overall crime with 12,392 offenses compared to 14,456 offenses in the same timeframe in 2024. Crimes against persons decreased 16.3%, crimes against property decreased 14.1%, and crimes against society decreased 8.2%. Commanders in each patrol division take preventive steps to address increases in crimes such as aggravated assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. All patrol divisions have strategic operating funds (SOFs) used to address crime in their areas. Commanders work with the Real Time Crime Center, crime analysts and Neighborhood Patrol Officers (NPOs) to identify emerging trends and hotspots. Read the entire report here.
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Beginning Aug. 9, some Fort Worth Police beat boundaries are changing. As Fort Worth’s population grows, the Police Department regularly responds by re-drawing police beats throughout the city to balance resources. Some beats in established areas will change very little, if at all. Other beats will decrease or increase in size, according to population trends.
In far Northwest Fort Worth, where new homes and apartments are being added daily, a few beats will change significantly, and new beats will be added. In some cases, your patrol division or Neighborhood Patrol Officer (NPO) will change. As always, residents and businesses can find their NPO’s name and phone number by visiting the city’s online data portal OneAddress. Type in your street address, click search, then click the "+" sign in front of the word “Neighborhoods.” Your NPO’s name and number are listed.
Northwest Police Division is planning several gatherings to introduce new NPOs to neighbors. Watch Nextdoor, Facebook and your email for dates and times!
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Most schools will be back in session the week of August 11, but some will have new start times. Fort Worth ISD elementary schools will begin at 7:40 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m., while FWISD middle and high school times remain unchanged. Whether or not you have children going back to school, it’s important to get back in the school zone habit. In Texas, that means:
- Slow down! The speed limit is 20 mph in all school zones.
- Cell phone use is prohibited—both texting and talking—while driving in a school zone.
- Do not pass other vehicles, make U-turns or change lanes in a school zone.
- Stop for school buses that are loading and unloading.
- Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
Fort Worth police remind you that traffic fines increase in school zones. Please mark your calendar now to leave a little early, and slow down in school zones.
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Crossing Guards Needed
Apply to be a crossing guard at one of more than 150 area schools. It even pays! Learn more about the City of Fort Worth's School Crossing Guard Program and the locations where guards are needed.
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Be Wise—Immunize!
Make sure your children are ready to go back to school. Here are the 2025 dates & locations to get vaccinations from Tarrant County Public Health’s Immunization Collaboration.
The 2025 Texas back-to-school sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 8, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 10.
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Beware of emails or texts that seem to come from Apple, Microsoft or Google saying you’re out of storage. The message may look legit, but your scam-radar should go off!
If you don’t even have cloud storage with the company emailing you, that’s the best clue that the message is a phishing scam you can report and delete. If the message comes from a company you do use for cloud storage, contact them directly. But don’t click the link in the message. Instead, use a number or website you know to be real — or log into your cloud account to see if you really need more cloud space.
Scammers often create emails designed to trick you into clicking a link. Their goal? Steal your personal information or install malware on your device. If you suspect a phishing scam, Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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We send a big Texas-sized thank you to all Northwest Fort Worth residents who donated wipes, paper towels, shovels and more for families affected by floods in the Texas Hill Country.
From Fort Worth with Love
Your donations of toilet paper, water, diapers and non-perishable food were part of an even larger load that’s helping families clean up and rebuild. Northwest NPO Rick De Los Santos (right) and many others drove your donations to the Hill Country.
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Officer Jessy Milburn (right) had a close encounter with a gator while responding to a call in the 6300 block of Lake Overlook Drive. Animal Control Officer Reid Koenig asked for Milburn’s help wrangling a small alligator found in a resident’s yard. “We got to measure her and be part of the tagging process,” said Milburn. “She was almost 48” long and weighed 11 pounds. We released her back into the Nature Center. They allowed us to nickname her, so we called her Francis.”
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As part of a citywide focus on literacy, Northwest Division NPOs agreed to write letters to 11- and 12-year-olds in North Tri-Ethnic Community Center’s summer camp program. During June and July, kids and cops shared thoughts on their favorite sports, hobbies, pets and more. The pen pal project was a fun way to keep reading and writing skills honed over the summer months.
Pen pals got to meet each other at an end-of-summer party. Top left to right: NPO Flores and his pal talked cars. NPO Massey and pal discovered they like the same flavor paleta. NPO Moncada brought his pal a treat, after reading about her favorite snack. NPO Martinez watches his pal draw him a picture. Bottom: NPOs Briseño and Skelton answered questions, then everyone went outside to tour NPO Lamb's patrol car.
Rookies Assist
Fresh out of the Police Academy’s 34-week training program, rookie officers are paired with veteran officers for even more on-the-job training. That includes practicing their “soft skills” at community events such as Northside Community Center’s Senior Share program, helping load groceries into seniors’ cars and answering their questions.
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Camp Fire First Texas
Camp Fire’s Teens in Action participants got a special tour of the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex, including the dreaded PAT, or physical assessment test. Officers must complete the obstacle course in two minutes and 45 seconds, or less. While wearing a vest that weighs as much as a uniform and gear, they dodge cones, jump over a fence, climb and descend stairs, lift and carry weights and fire a simulated weapon.
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We love helping kids get ready to go back to school. Neighborhood Patrol Officers Dustin Lamb and Kirk Massey handed out school supplies at North Texas Area Community Health Centers.
Many hands made light work at Diamond Hill Community Center's big school supply giveaway. Our thanks to Interim Chief Alldredge, Assistant Chiefs Swearingin and Carabajal plus Deputy Chief Ricks for helping Northwest officers give out backpacks.
Then we did it again at a joint back-to-school party for Northside and North Tri-Ethnic Community Centers' summer campers. NPO Lamb, Sgt. Baldivia and NPO Zenteno were among those who helped distribute supplies. What a week!
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Funding Extended for Historic Northside
The Historic Northside District has received a two-year funding extension from the Fort Worth Local Development Corporation. It’ll mean another $80,000 per year in matching funds for administration and project implementation. Funds must be used for economic development, vitality and design efforts that support small businesses or improvements to the district’s commercial corridor. That includes things like lighting, security, beautification and more. The district includes North Main Street and Northside Drive.
Northwest Police Division supports the project by meeting monthly with business owners and managers in the Historic Northside District to provide crime prevention resources. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month to share concerns and plan solutions. If you’d like to receive an electronic calendar invitation for meetings, please email project coordinator Dee Lara O’Neal Next meeting is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the Percy Building, 1426 N. Main St. Hear Design Committee news, plans for focus groups, safety updates and meet neighboring managers and owners.
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Helping NICA Help Others
At a recent tour of the Northside Inter-Community Agency, we learned how NICA helps Northside neighbors in crisis and connects them with resources. For example, serving 820 households a month through its food pantry, opening its community closet two Fridays a month to provide shoes and other clothing and helping mothers with formula and car seats. Plus, programs that help seniors stay social and help youth develop life skills. You can help NICA by donating gently used clothing (especially men’s clothing), non-perishable food, new gifts or gift cards for prizes and raffles, travel size toiletries such as soap and toothpaste. For more information, call 817-626-1102.
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Longhorn Crossing
We thank Manager Miranda Phelps for inviting us to a community event at Longhorn Crossing Apartments. Residents enjoyed Kona Ice snow cones, while talking with NPO Robert Herrera about how to prevent vehicle burglaries. They also picked up info on when to call 911 versus the police non-emergency number. To invite us to your next community gathering, contact your NPO or Crime Prevention Specialist Dot Kent.
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Northill Manor Apartments
Safety and fun were on tap at Northill Manor Apartments this summer. We thank Miss Liz for inviting us out to talk with children about when to call 911 and the importance of knowing your home address. We also practiced looking both ways before crossing the parking lot and toured a police car with NPOs.
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Promotion Ceremony
We congratulate Sgt. Marshall Meyer on his recent promotion! The former corporal and detective was promoted to sergeant. Meyer joined the Fort Worth Police Department in 2008. Sgt. Meyer's promotion became official July 24 during a ceremony with Interim Chief Robert Alldredge.
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Narcan Training
The police department’s Tactical-Medical unit helped the Northwest Patrol Division get up to date on how to administer the life-saving drug Narcan. The nose spray can reverse the effects of opioid overdose. After class, officers could re-stock supplies they carry in their patrol cars.
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Sea Cadet Training
Northwest NPOs Vanbrunt and Lamb helped train 23 Sea Cadets from across the country this summer, showing them how to conduct safe traffic stops. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard for youth ages 10 to 18.
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Citizens on Patrol Highlights
Northwest Division Crime Analyst Natalie Rivas gave COPs an update on crimes in every beat. The information helps COP members know what to watch out for on their neighborhood patrols. As you might imagine, most crimes happen on Fridays and Saturdays between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
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Commander Randy Molina recognized several COP volunteers for their help searching for a teenager whose family believed she was suicidal. The quick work of COPs Steve Hudgeons, Cynthia Thomas, Tim Thomas and Kris Anderson was instrumental in locating the 17-year-old safely. Learn more here about the COP volunteer program.
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Fort Worth’s After-School Program offers a safe, enriching space for kids ages 5–12 with activities, snacks and more at 20 local community centers. Register now! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ou4mz5
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Police beats are changing Aug. 9, 2025. We'll publish the updated list next month. If you don’t know your Neighborhood Patrol Officer’s name, visit OneAddress. Type in your street address, click search, then click the "+" sign in front of the word “Neighborhoods.” Your NPO’s name and number are listed.
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This newsletter was published by Northwest Police Division Crime Prevention Office. |
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