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September 2025
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The City of Fort Worth officially introduced Eddie Garcia as its new police chief at a city hall news conference in August. In making the announcement, City Manager Jay Chapa said, “I leaned into the fact that Garcia has led two large police departments in cities with similar issues as Fort Worth, with diverse and complex communities.” Garcia was police chief in Dallas and San Jose. Fort Worth City Council is expected to confirm the selection at a meeting this month, and Garcia would be sworn in shortly after. Above, retired Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes welcomed incoming Chief Eddie Garcia at the news conference.
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Fort Worth Police beat boundaries changed last month, and in some cases ushered in new Neighborhood Patrol Officers, or NPOs. Northwest Division’s newest NPO is Officer Megan Vorce, who’s been with Fort Worth PD for seven years. She’s assigned to police beat David 16, which includes neighborhoods such as Lake Country, Eagle Mountain Ranch, Talon Hills, Marine Creek Hills and Parkview Hills. Officer Vorce says she enjoys making a difference in people’s lives, “whether it's helping someone on their hardest days or simply being a reassuring presence.”
NPO Vorce and a map of her beat, indicated by the red square. Beat David 16 borders are W. Bailey Boswell on the north, Old Decatur Road on the east, Cromwell Marine Creek on the south and Eagle Mountain Lake on the west.
Did Your NPO Change? 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.
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We’re hosting a series of Coffee with a Cop events so you can meet your NPO. There’s no agenda, just an opportunity to chat and ask questions. The coffee's on us for the first 50 guests. Join us at a location near you:
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NPO Zach Briseno enjoyed meeting Northside neighbors and business managers, sharing his card and listening to your concerns. A big thank you to Joseph Landeros and staff at Casa Azul Coffee for hosting our Aug. 25 Coffee with a Cop and to District 2 City Councilmember Carlos Flores for stopping by.
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The registration link is open for Fort Worth’s National Night Out Oct. 7. NNO is an annual celebration that promotes getting to know your neighbors and first responders—one of the most effective crime prevention tools there is! To register, fill out a short online form no later than Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. We’ll set aside goodies for you to hand out that night, while supplies last, and plan to visit your NNO block party. Have questions or need ideas? Contact Crime Prevention Specialist Dot.Kent@fortworthtexas.gov
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Left to right: At a news conference kicking off the Night Out planning season, McGruff the crime dog and Commander Molina urged everyone to plan an NNO celebration. NPO Dustin Lamb, Northside Neighborhood Association’s Cindy Rodriguez and CM Flores shared plans for an NNO event at Northside Community Center.
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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning investors about Lightning Shared Scooter Company LLC (LSSC), a business claiming a North Texas address that appears to be operating as a pyramid scheme. LSSC currently holds an “F” rating with BBB for failing to respond to complaints and for operating without the required competency license from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The company advertises itself as the “leading shared scooter company,” encouraging investors to lease scooters at varying investment levels, with promises of daily returns. The BBB says investors were given what appeared to be an SEC certificate, but it was riddled with typos, grammatical errors and a fabricated certificate number. Like many pyramid schemes, investors are recruited by friends or family and encouraged to bring in new members. Investors report being required to pay in cryptocurrency, a common tactic in fraudulent investment schemes. If you’ve been approached by this company or a similar investment, file a report with BBB Scam Tracker.
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Shop Talk
Meeting residents where they are is what the One Community USA Shop Talk program is all about. Our thanks to Brad Deason and Clarence Lockett for inviting us to Threads of Beauty Salon, 1525 Jacksboro Highway. Customers enjoyed a light lunch and some great financial tips from Chase Bank—all while getting their hair and eyebrows done! NPOs Lamb and Briseño shared handouts on how to report crime and other issues to the city.
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Senior Share
Whenever they can, Northwest Division officers enjoy stopping by Northside Community Centeron the second Wednesday of the month for Senior Share. Last month, officers Briseño, Vorce, Frias and Rodriguez helped center staff load free groceries into seniors’ cars to stretch their budgets.
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Northwest Division provided multiple extra officers and Citizens on Patrol volunteers for the first week of school to help with traffic and show a presence in school zones. Here are the top three things we need your help on:
- Do not let children get out of the car in the middle of traffic.
- Remind students to use marked crosswalks and never cross between cars.
- Do not park near intersections in school zones so drivers can see kids clearly.
Above: A school resource officer and crossing guard made sure students got safely across Refugio Avenue to Kirkpatrick Middle School on the first day of school. A patrol officer working special duty greeted students and parents in the carpool lane at Diamond Hill High School.
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Safety Checkup
Before the bell rang on the first day, Neighborhood Patrol Officers dropped by each school on their beat to introduce themselves to staff and tour the building. For example, WJ Turner Elementary’s Safety & Security Chief Jesus Ramon showed NPO Lamb some of the updates from last year, including electronic signs in hallways and classrooms that can share safety messages throughout the school when needed.
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After-school, too!
Officers also stop by after-school programs when they can. At WJ Turner parent orientation, NPO Lamb reiterated traffic safety rules for pickup time. Students who attend Monday through Thursday get a warm meal, do homework then get to do activities of their choosing, such as gardening, sports, dancing and more. If your child's school doesn't have an after-school program, check with your nearest city community center.
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School Supplies
United Way and Artes de la Rosa invited us to their big back-to-school event. Officers loved helping kids and parents get excited about the start of school.
Left to right: It was a group effort, led by United Way, to get hundreds of kids outfitted for school. NPO Rodriguez handed out pencils while NPO Vanbrunt and Sgt Guzman doled out junior police badge stickers.
Left to right: NPO Moncada, Sgt Baldivia and Lt Hill handed out stickers and wrist bands to children picking up school supplies at Waves of Faith church.
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Investing in Safety
Sgt Joe Shipp spoke to business owners and managers in the Historic Northside District about strategies for installing security cameras. The group meets the first Tuesday of the month at various business locations along the North Main Street corridor. Email Dee Lara O’Neal with the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to get on the meeting reminder list. If your business group would like help with a crime-related issue, contact your NPO or crime prevention specialist Dot.Kent@fortworthtexas.gov
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Narcan Training
Fort Worth officers train continuously in policies and procedures. FWPD’s Tactical Medical Unit recently visited Northwest Patrol to teach officers how to recognize an opioid overdose and use the latest naloxone or Narcan nose spray to save a life. After class, officers were able to re-stock supply kits they carry in their patrol units.
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Deputy Chief Meeting
Northwest NPOs got a visit from Deputy Chief Stefanie Ricks who’s over the Police Department’s North Command, which includes Northwest Division. She urged NPOs to continue their hard work in the community and use all the department’s resources to help fight crime in neighborhoods.
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Northwest Citizens on Patrol (COP) volunteers Sue Anderson and Harry Diaz were featured recently in District 11 Councilmember Jeanette Martinez’ newsletter. Here's an excerpt from that article.
Left to right: CM Martinez, Harry Diaz, Commander Molina, Diaz, Sue Anderson, Sandra Jones-Hunley, Mayor Parker and Anderson.
Sue first joined Code Blue in the early 2000s. After stepping away to support her family, she returned in June 2024 and has already logged an impressive 325 volunteer hours in just the first half of 2025. For Sue, the most rewarding part is connecting with neighbors and helping residents access the resources they need. “Being involved in the community is the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” she said. “It’s helping future generations have an even better place to live.”
Harry Diaz also became a COP in June 2024 and has contributed more than 230 volunteer hours. He’s helped paint a local church, assisted a resident in securing her home and served burgers at the Code Blue Golf Tournament. Harry believes Citizens on Patrol members are “the eyes and ears of the FWPD” and that their presence helps prevent crime and improve neighborhoods.
Both Sue and Harry praise the strong leadership of Captain Brent Halford, Commander Randy Molina, Code Blue Volunteer Coordinator Freddie Burns and Northwest Coordinator Sandra Jones-Hunley, whose support keeps the program running smoothly. We're grateful for their service and commitment to keeping Fort Worth safe throughout Northwest Division. Thank you Sue and Harry!
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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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