Fort Worth Police Department Strategic Plan
Camera Program that will add additional cameras to all areas of the city. The department is also establishing partnerships with local citizens and businesses with the new voluntary Community Camera Program. This program allows FWPD to expand its database of cameras for investigative use should a crime occur. Businesses and residents can register their camera with FWPD, allowing the department to quickly identify nearby cameras that may have captured criminal activity. In the first week of the program in August 2016, 180 cameras were registered. Accessibility to cameras systems already in existence is also vital. One such example is school districts. In the event of an active crime situation inside a school or other public area, the RTCC could access the cameras at the location and provide responding officers real-time information of the event. This same scenario could apply to other locations such as malls or shopping centers. As technology continues to evolve, the RTCC must expand to keep pace with technological advances in order to remain viable. The next five years will see a substantial increase in the Department’s surveillance camera program. The expanded use of cameras and license plate readers will require more personnel and equipment in the RTCC to monitor these resources. RTCC staff work closely with members of the Electronic Surveillance Unit (ESU). The ESU builds, maintains, and deploys numerous camera platforms in support of a wide array of investigative purposes simultaneously. They deploy portable surveillance cameras for events such as Mayfest, the Main Street Arts Festival, and Texas Motor Speedway to provide real-time assessment of crowds, identify health emergencies, and to investigate and/or deter suspicious activities. The same mobile systems monitor high crime areas such as parking lots at shopping centers or apartment complexes. ESU is exploring the capabilities of drones to provide real-time intelligence to officers in certain circumstances. The Tactical Intelligence Division is also exploring facial recognition programs and technology that triangulates gunshots so officers can respond quicker and more effectively to calls involving firearm discharges. More information regarding these programs can be found in Part 3: How Growth Affects the Fort Worth Police Department, Technology Development and Infrastructure Expansion. The Narcotics and Gang Sections comprise the Tactical Investigations Division. Narcotics officers respond to complaints about drug and vice (gambling, prostitution) activity. These officers have developed strong relationships with State and Federal partners to combat these offenses in Fort Worth. The Narcotics Unit has a key role in the FWPD Drug Market Intervention (DMI) effort, which is part of the National Initiative. The Unit will need to expand in order to work future DMI locations while still addressing citizen complaints about narcotic violations. As complaints regarding vice related offenses increased, the Department created a taskforce to address illegal game rooms and prostitution. This group has been highly successful within the first six months of operation and has demonstrated that the Department will benefit Tactical Investigations Division
Bureau Overview and Goals
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