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 FWPD West Division Newsletter
March 2026
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Education - Fraud and Scam Prevention
Throughout February, the West Division Crime Prevention unit held several educational initiatives focused on safety and security for senior adults. Presentations took place at The Vantage at Cityview, Ridgmar Place, and with the YMCA Silver Sneakers group. At The Vantage, residents participated in two sessions titled “Scams Affecting Senior Citizens and How to Stay Safe” and “Protecting Yourself from AI Scams and Synthetic Media.” Ridgmar Place residents attended a presentation on “Internet Safety,” while Silver Sneakers members learned about the “Top 10 Scams and the Red Flags to Identify Them.”
Organizations or community groups interested in scheduling similar crime prevention presentations in West Division are encouraged to contact West Division Crime Prevention Specialist Steve Mitsuhashi at (817) 392‑4768 or Steve.Mitsuhashi@FortWorthTexas.gov.
Vantage at Cityview
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Ridgmar Place
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YMCA
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Ridgmar Place Hosts First Thursdays
The residents of Ridgmar Place show their appreciation by hosting a First Thursday breakfast for all first responders. On February 5, 2026, West Division Neighborhood Patrol Officer Musquiz, the Crime Prevention Specialist, the West Division COP Coordinator, and one of the COP captains joined residents for a delicious made-to-order breakfast. During the event, residents were able to visit with West Division personnel, ask questions, and learn more about the various programs offered by the FWPD. Ridgmar Place hosts these breakfasts for all first reponders the first Thursday of each month. All first responders are welcome to attend.
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NPO Beat Happenings
West Division NPOs visit High Ridge Elementary Schools
Neighborhood Patrol Officers from West Division visited both campuses of High Ridge Elementary School on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and Thursday, February 5, 2026. NPOs Park, Robison, and St. Clair spent time at one campus, while NPOs Klein, Park, and Robison visited the second campus. During these visits, students were able to talk with the officers, ask questions, and tour a patrol vehicle.
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Code Blue Citizens on Patrol Host Bingo Event
On February 21, 2026, the South Division brought the community together for a citywide Bingo event just for our Citizens on Patrol members. Volunteers from divisions all across the city joined in for a fun afternoon of games, camaraderie, and great prizes!
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Scam Alerts
Your phone rings and what the caller says next sends you into a panic. They claim there’s fraud on your credit card, someone hacked your bank account, you owe a tax debt, or your benefits will end today. Your adrenaline is pumping, and your mind races a hundred miles an hour. They sense this—and they say they can help. Should you trust them? No.
Pump the brakes. The caller might know things about you—like your full name or address—or your accounts. But that doesn’t mean they’re trustworthy. Scammers buy or steal this information to make their lies seem believable.
So, what should you do if you get a call like this?
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Get some basic details, then hang up. What company or bank are they calling from? What’s the problem? Then hang up. Yes, hang up.
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Verify the story by contacting the company or bank yourself. Do you have an account with the company or bank the caller says they represent? Contact the company directly to find out what’s going on:
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Do use the official app or website to get in touch with the fraud department
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Do call the phone number on a recent statement or the back of your card
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Do not rely on top search results to find a company’s contact information—scammers often buy paid search ads so their fake numbers appear at the top of the listings
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Always talk to a trusted friend or family member. No legitimate fraud department will tell you to keep the call a secret.
And no matter who says they’re calling, never share your personal or account information, don’t grant anyone remote access to your phone or computer, and keep account verification codes to yourself. If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps stop the scammers.
Join Us for National Slam the Scam Day — March 5!
On March 5, 2026, during National Consumer Protection Week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will lead National Slam the Scam Day.
Take part by using tools from SSA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to recognize imposters — including Social Security-related scams — and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information.
Help Us Slam the Scam!
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Learn about common tactics and how to recognize the signs. For example:
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An unexpected problem or offer of a prize or government benefit increase.
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Pressure to act immediately.
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Request for unusual payments like cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold bars, cash, or wire transfers, even with the promise of keeping your money safe.
Spread the word. Visit ssa.gov/scam for more information that could help you and others stay safe.
Report suspicious activity. Report Social Security-related issues to SSA OIG (oig.ssa.gov/report) and other concerns to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov).
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Follow SSA OIG on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
Repost #SlamtheScam content on social media to keep your friends and family safe.
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Crime Prevention Tip of the Month
Stop garage break-ins: add a garage door guard or physical lock.
A physical guard or lock that stops your garage door from being opened from outside greatly reduces one of the most common break‑in routes into a home.
Main reasons to install a guard
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Limits a major entry point
Many burglars target the garage because it is often less secured than front or back doors; blocking the door from being lifted (with anti‑lift brackets, slide bolts, or interior lock bars) removes that easy access.
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Protects the emergency release from “fishing”
Thieves can slip a coat hanger or hook through the top of the door, snag the emergency release, and open the door by hand; a shield or guard over the release area makes this extremely difficult.
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Works even if the opener is hacked or a remote is stolen
If someone clones your remote code or steals a clicker from your car, a mechanical guard/lock on the inside still prevents the door from lifting, so the electronic system alone is not your only line of defense.
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Increases safety for attached garages
When the garage is attached to the house, securing the overhead door helps protect the door into the house itself, which is often a weaker interior door and a favorite path for intruders once they’re inside the garage.
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Visible deterrent to opportunistic thieves
Extra security hardware (guards, slide bolts, or anti‑lift devices) signals that the garage is not an easy target, so many burglars will move on to a less‑protected home.
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Peace of mind when traveling
Being able to physically lock or guard the door from the inside before vacations or long trips reduces worry about someone quietly lifting the door while you are away.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NPO Roster
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Community News
LVT Rise Community Center
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Thomas Place Community Center
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