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 FWPD West Division Newsletter
July 2026
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Target Hosts Patriotic Outreach Event with West Division Officers
On July 2, 2026, shoppers beat the summer heat by enjoying refreshing treats while spending time with West Division Neighborhood Patrol Officers during the inaugural Stars & Stripes with a Cop event. Representing West Division were Commander Spencer, Sgt. Jwanowski, Sgt. Stary, Neighborhood Patrol Officers Janzen (K17), St. Clair (L21), and Vasquez (K19). They were joined by Code Blue (COP) Captains Anna Carr and Vicki Coss, along with COP Coordinator Gabriella Venegas.
The event provided a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere where community members could meet the officers who serve their neighborhoods, ask questions, and build positive relationships with law enforcement. In addition to the cool refreshments, attendees received valuable crime prevention and child safety information to help keep their families, homes, and neighborhoods safe. Events like Stars & Stripes with a Cop continue to strengthen partnerships between the Fort Worth Police Department and the community through meaningful conversations and personal connections.
Young Campers Learn About Law Enforcement at Community Heroes Day
On June 25, 2027, West Division Neighborhood Patrol Officers Escalante (K14), McEwan (L17), Musquiz (L12), Wylie (K15), Officer Carstens, and the Crime Prevention Unit had the privilege of participating in All Saints Episcopal School's Early Learning Center Community Heroes Day. During the event, campers ages 3 to 5 enjoyed hands-on activities that introduced them to the important role law enforcement plays in keeping the community safe. Officers engaged with the children by answering questions, demonstrating police equipment, and sharing how they serve, protect, and support the community each day. Community Heroes Day provided a valuable opportunity to build positive relationships with the young campers while reinforcing the importance of trust, teamwork, and strong partnerships between law enforcement and the community.
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"Building Safer Neighborhoods: Prospective Homeowners Attend Habitat for Humanity's Quarterly CPTED Training"
On June 6, 2026, prospective homeowners participated in Habitat for Humanity's quarterly Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training. Attendees learned how thoughtful landscaping, well-defined property boundaries, and proper home security measures can help deter criminal activity. The class focused on practical strategies for protecting both the exterior and interior of a home, including the effective use of door and window locks, alarm systems, exterior lighting, and security cameras. Participants left with valuable knowledge and tools they can use to create a safer and more secure living environment for themselves and their families.
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Ridgmar Place Hosts First Thursday Breakfast
On Thursday, June 5, 2026, West Division Neighborhood Patrol Officers, Citizens on Patrol members, and the West Division Crime Prevention Specialist attended Ridgmar Place's First Thursday Breakfast. Ridgmar Place began hosting these monthly gatherings for first responders in December 2025 as a way to strengthen relationships between residents and public safety personnel. The breakfasts provide an informal setting where residents can meet with first responders, enjoy meaningful conversations, and share a made-to-order breakfast. The event continues to be a great opportunity to foster community connections and build positive relationships.
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West Division NPOs Participate in Career Day at Lil Goldman Early Learning Center
On June 2, 2026, West Division Neighborhood Patrol Officers Janzen (K17) and St. Clair (L21) participated in Career Day at Lil Goldman Early Learning Center. Children ranging in age from toddlers to 6 years old had the opportunity to meet the officers, explore a police vehicle, and learn about the equipment officers use in their daily duties. The event provided a fun and interactive way for students to learn about law enforcement while building positive relationships with their local police officers.
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Education:
Ridgmar Place Lunch & Learn
Protecting Seniors from Medicare Fraud was the focus of this month's Lunch & Learn program at Ridgmar Place. Residents received an overview of Medicare fraud and learned about common tactics criminals use to obtain personal Medicare information. The presentation highlighted warning signs of potential scams, including fraudulent phone calls, emails, and offers of free medical equipment or services. Residents also learned practical steps they can take to safeguard their personal information, recognize suspicious activity, and reduce their risk of becoming a victim of Medicare fraud.
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Evergreen at Hulen Bend
“Secure Living: Crime Prevention for Seniors in Multi-Housing Communities” was the topic of this month’s presentation. Residents received practical safety tips on physically securing their homes, safely navigating shared spaces, protecting mail and packages, recognizing phone scams and deceptive schemes, and preparing for emergencies. Following the presentation, residents had the opportunity to ask questions and share personal experiences involving situations they have encountered while living in a multi-housing community.
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Crime Prevention Tip of the Month
"Celebrate Safely: July Fourth and Summer Crime Prevention"
July brings holiday celebrations, family gatherings, vacations, and increased outdoor activity. Unfortunately, it can also create opportunities for crime. Residents can help protect themselves by taking a few simple precautions:
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Never leave valuables visible inside parked vehicles, especially at parks, festivals, and fireworks events.
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Lock vehicle doors and roll up windows, even when parked for a short time.
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If traveling, place interior lights on timers, pause mail delivery, and ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home.
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Avoid posting vacation plans or real-time travel updates on social media.
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Keep fireworks safety in mind and remember that fireworks are prohibited within the City of Fort Worth.
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Stay aware of your surroundings when attending crowded events and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
By taking proactive steps to secure homes, vehicles, and personal property, residents can enjoy a safe and memorable Independence Day holiday while reducing opportunities for crime.
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Scam Alerts
Medicare fraud affects everyone, so here’s what to know and do
Medicare losses due to fraud, errors, and abuse cost taxpayers about $60 billion every year. Providers might double bill Medicare for a single treatment, charge for things like a back brace you didn’t get (or need); a company might offer you a fake Medicare drug plan; or a scammer might ask you to confirm your Medicare number — which they then use to commit hospice fraud.
Medicare fraud, abuse, and unintentional errors can also contribute to medical identity theft, losing your benefits, and paying higher medical costs. So, what can you do to help fight Medicare fraud while protecting yourself and your community?
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Never share your Medicare number with someone who calls unexpectedly. Medicare won’t call or visit you at home to sell you anything. Medicare representatives will only ask for information if you contact them first.
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Review and report Medicare fraud and abuse. Spot mistakes or inconsistencies in your statements? Ask your medical provider or plan to explain. If you suspect fraud or abuse, call 1-877-808-2468 to reach your local Senior Medicare Patrol, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
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Report medical identity theft. If someone uses your information to get medical care or services, notify your provider or plan. And report the theft to IdentityTheft.gov to get a personalized plan to help you recover.
The FTC is getting reports about a new phishing scam that looks a lot like the CAPTCHA requests you might be used to seeing. Real CAPTCHAs give you image- or text-based tasks to prove you’re not a robot — something like typing letters and numbers exactly as they appear, or matching pictures of things like fire hydrants or traffic lights. Here’s how the fake CAPTCHA requests happen…and how you could wind up installing malware on your own device.
You get an unexpected CAPTCHA request while browsing a website. The screen looks a lot like a regular CAPTCHA, asking you to verify you’re human. But the message says to type a series of commands — something like “Windows + R,” then “Ctrl + V,” and then “Enter”. The screen might say “security verification,” but you’re actually following the steps to paste and run hidden malware on your device. Once it’s there, scammers can quickly steal your email account login data, mobile banking credentials, or any other information they can get access to.
Real CAPTCHAs won’t ask you to run commands on your device. If you notice something downloading to your device after responding to a CAPTCHA, act quickly to remove the malware and protect yourself:
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Disconnect from the internet. This stops scammers from accessing your online shopping or banking accounts.
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Run a security scan to remove the malware. Keep your software and apps up to date to catch viruses.
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Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication (using a different device) in case the malware already gave a hacker access to your accounts.
If you spot a CAPTCHA or pop-up that you think is trying to spread malware, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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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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