Fort Worth Police Department Strategic Plan
Other Needs and Considerations Vice Unit
In recent years, the Department eliminated personnel from the Vice Unit to staff other vacant positions deemed more critical needs. The responsibility for investigating vice related and narcotics related offenses became that of the Narcotics Unit. This transition in philosophy stretched investigative resources to the point where it became difficult for the Narcotics Unit to address incoming vice complaints in a timely manner while simultaneously managing narcotics complaint caseload. As a result, in early 2016, the Department transferred 10 officers and a sergeant from the Patrol Bureau to the Narcotics Section to address vice issues on a temporary basis. Within the first six months of operation, this group conducted thirty (30) evidentiary search warrants at illegal gaming rooms, seized over $300,000 in cash, confiscated ten firearms, and performed several successful anti-prostitution details. Based on their success, the Department will re-establish a permanent Vice Unit to allow the Narcotics Unit to focus solely on drug-related issues In FY18, the new Citywide Vice Unit will consist of one sergeant, one detective and nine officers. The Department forecasts the need for a second team to provide expanded enforcement across different shifts, therefore, a second team consisting of one sergeant, one detective and nine officers is planned for FY19. The Department will evaluate the efforts of the Vice Unit and analyze crime trends annually to determine if further expansion is required. Drug Market Intervention (DMI) is a key component of the National Initiative. The Narcotics Unit plays a pivotal role in this initiative as well as addressing citywide narcotics complaints by establishing probable cause to arrest individual drug sellers and identifying those offenders who could potentially benefit from the alternate pathway provided through DMI. The Department plans to expand DMI to several areas across the City and this will necessitate a greater involvement from the Narcotics Unit. Additionally, the Narcotics Unit is planning to establish highway and postal/package interdiction teams to combat the transportation of illegal drugs and proceeds through our interstate roadways and mail systems. These increased enforcement activities will require additional personnel to staff these initiatives while continuing to remain responsive to citizen complaints about community-level drug sales. Traffic Division The number of traffic accidents dispatched to patrol officers increased significantly over the last five years: from 26,848 in 2011, to 29,726 in 2015. Additionally, traffic fatalities in Fort Worth also increased: from 68 in 2011, to 93 in 2015 (TX Department of Transportation, 2016). Through August 2016, there were 21,782 accidents dispatched, and 54 were fatalities. Each traffic accident requires an average of 1 hour and 44 minutes of officer time to invetigate. Due to the Traffic Division focus on enforcement, education, investigation, and ancillary duties such as: dignitary escorts, parade route closures, traffic control at major events (Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Texas Motor Speedway events, Parade of Lights, Narcotics Unit
How Growth Affects the Fort Worth Police Department
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