2021 Annual Report - El Paso Police Department

El Paso Police Department's 2021 Annual Report El Paso, Texas

El Paso Police Department

Annual Report 2021

Focus on Community

El Paso Police Department

Law Enforcement in the past year has been in the crosshairs by some who say we are racists, poorly trained, and use the law against those who are socio-economically challenged. There is even a concerted effort from some politicians and the naive, that the harsh reality of enforcing the law is no longer necessary to guarantee the safety of our communities. Needless to say, those of us actually performing the duties of trying to safeguard our communities find this view of the world is in stark contrast to reality. Law enforcement must stand strong against such thinking. The examples of not doing so are evident in many cities across this nation where law enforcement has forsaken their responsibility to their communities. Those of us in law enforcement have taken an oath in the performance of our duties, and we collectively must STAND by that oath. Change and challenges to law enforcement ebb and flow as it always has, and always will. Failure to live by our Oath of Office, administered the day we are commissioned as Peace Officers, would only embolden the lawless among us, and betray those that rely on us to safeguard them. This message to the people of El Paso is simple and hopefully easy to understand. The El Paso Police Department will not abandon its’ responsibility to safeguard this City and its’ people for political expediency. We “Serve and Protect” to the Best of our ability! This has been my position as Chief during my tenure, and it will remain so as long as I am Chief.

Table of Contents

Investigations Bureau Organized Crime Division Major Crimes Division Strategic Planning & Auxiliary Services Bureau Planning & Research/Risk Management Communications

32 34 36 38 40 41 42 44 46 47 48 50

Letter from the Chief Organizational Chart Command Staff Department Demographics Regional Command Map NIBRS Crime Offense Statistics Use of Force Incidents Public Information Office Crime Stoppers Internal Affairs Code Enforcement Uniform Police Bureau I Pebble Hills Regional Command Central Regional Command Airport Special Services Division Headquarters Traffic DWI Task force High Performance Vehicle Unit Uniform Police Bureau II Northeast Regional Command West Side Regional Command Mission Valley Regional Command Training Academy

3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 30 31

Auxiliary Services Human Resources Payroll

Staffing & Employee Relations Backgrounds & Recruitment Administrative Services Grants Records New Initiative: Fire Fly Gunshot Detection System New Initiative: Volunteers In Patrol Service Community Outreach: Special Olympics Community Outreach & Support Police Week 2021 Awards & Commendations

53 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

Promotions Retirements

End of Watch: Detective C. Santiago #1896 End of Watch: Detective C. Harmon #2137 End of Watch: Lieutenant J. Terrazas #1773 End of Watch: Blue Line Heroes

Chief of Police Gregory K. Allen

Special Operations Group Crisis Intervention Team Department Contractors

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Chief of Police K. Allen Gregory K. Allen

Command Staff

Chief of Police Gregory K. Allen

Internal Affairs

Public Information Office

Lt. R. Zavala

Code Enforcement Bureau Interim J. Smith

Uniform Police Bureau I A/C V. Zarur

Strategic Planning and Auxiliary Services Bureau A/C Z. Silva

Northeast Command Cmdr. J. Inciriaga West Side Command Cmdr. S. Lopez Mission Valley Command Cmdr. R. Ramos Uniform Police Bureau II A/C P. Pacillas

Investigations Bureau A/C H. Talamantes

Human Resources C. Ramirez

Administrative Services I. Valdez

Code Enforcement Vacant

Pebble Hills Command Cmdr. J. Lanahan

Planning and Research Lt. J. Poust Communications Liaison Lt. J. Garcia

Organized Crime Cmdr. R. Moton Major Crimes Cmdr. J. Briones

Payroll

Budget & Finance C. Cisneros

A. Moreno

Central Command Cmdr. T. Pena

Backgrounds & Recruitment Lt. J. Van Valen

Grants

I. Hooper

Special Services Division Lt. S. Schmidt Headquarters Traffic Lt. J. Velasquez

Auxiliary Services Lt. M. Franco

Staffing & Employee Relations R. Prieto

Supply

Assistant Chief Victor Zarur

Assistant Chief Peter Pacillas

Assistant Chief Humberto Talamantes

Assistant Chief Zina Silva

Vacant

Facility Maintenance E. Segura

Special Operations Group Lt. K. Law

Records

V. Manson

DWI Task Force Lt. J. Esparza

Academy

Fleet Management S. Pedroza

Lt. J. Johnson

Crisis Intervention Team Lt. R. Pisarcik

Lieutenant Robert Zavala

Code Compliance Administrator Interim Jimmy Smith

Human Resources Manager Carlos Ramirez

Administrative Manager Isaura Valdez

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Central Regional Command Population: 92,102 Land Size: 17.15 sq mi Mission Valley Regional Command Population: 102,475 Land Size: 29.73 sq mi Northeast Regional Command Population: 128,324 Land Size: 63.60 sq mi Pebble Hills Regional Command Population: 240,632 Land Size: 54.60 sq mi West Side Regional Command Population: 131,830 Land Size: 91.00 sq mi

Department Demographics

Ethnicities of

Sworn and Civilian Staffing of Regional Commands Central - Mission Valley - Northeast - Pebble Hills - West Side - Specialized Units - Sworn - 1,131 Civilian - 271 174 Sworn 96 Sworn 110 Sworn 173 Sworn 112 Sworn 466 Sworn 17 Civilians 6 Civilians 2 Civilians 6 Civilians 5 Civilians 235 Civilians

Sworn Officers Hispanic -

82.1% 14.5% 2.1%

NERC

White - Black - Asian -

WSRC

0.8% 0.4% 0.1%

Pacific Islander - Native American -

CRCC

PHRC

Male - 85.9% Female - 14.1%

MVRC

El Paso Police Department Population: 695,102 Land Size:

256.08 sq mi

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Crime Offense Statistics

Use of Force Incidents

Part 1 UCR Crime Statistic Comparison 29 296 233 984 28

2021

2020

Type 2 Force - 549 (15%) Includes impact weapons, chemical agents, CEW (Taser), less lethal, and K9 deployment Type 3 Force - 5 (0%) Includes firearm discharge or other deadly force Total UOF Incidents - 1,151 Officer Service Calls Involving UOF Total Calls for Service - 371,798 Total Calls Involving UOF - 1,151 Type of Calls for Service Involving UOF Dispatched Calls - 943 (82%) Officer Initiated - 208 (18%)

West Side Pebble Hills Northeast Mission Valley Central

130 186 195 270 370

Criminal Homicide Forcible Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary

260 289 1,591 849 7,297

1,152 6,752 974

Larceny-Theft Vehicle Theft

432

Animal Cruelty 141 Drug/

Assault Offenses 7,263

Burglary/ Breaking & Entering 1,152

Counterfeiting/ Forgery 223

Destruction/ Damage/ Vandalism of Property 3,781 Human Trafficking 0

Arson

Bribery

0 Fraud Offenses 2,220 Pornography/ Obscene Material 135

Extortion/ Blackmail 0 Motor Vehicle Theft 974

Gambling Offenses 0 Prostitution Offenses 32 Fugitive Offenses 0*

Homicide Offenses 31

Narcotic Offenses 2,863 Kidnapping/ Abduction 103 Stolen Property Offenses 3

Embezzlement

Show of Force - 110 (3%) Firearm intentionally pointed at a person Type 1 Force - 2,951 (82%) Includes soft empty hand, hard empty control, restraint chair, and spit sock application

103 Larceny/Theft Offenses 6,752 Weapon Law Violations 424

Total Applications

Robbery

Sex Offenses

of Force 3,615

233 Immigration Violations 0*

498

Commerce Violations 0*

Espionage

Treason

* INDICATES A NON-REPORTED CRIME CATEGORY

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Public Information Office

Crime Stoppers

they can receive a reward if their tip leads to an arrest or disciplinary action. Every week, we compile and distribute our Most Wanted fugitive list at the request of our law enforcement partners. In 2021, we featured 346 wanted fugitives. Through tips, police fieldwork, and self-surrenders, 174 wanted suspects were arrested. The Crime of the Week spotlights an unsolved case from one of our law enforcement partners that is distributed and publicized through local news media and our social media profiles. Our Crime of the Week has helped solve homicides, aggravated robberies, identity thefts, and much more with the help of tips submitted by the public. With the support of our local and business communities, Crime Stoppers aims to enhance and increase safety in El Paso as it continues to grow.

Crime Stoppers of El Paso, Inc. has given El Pasoans an anonymous voice in fighting crime since 1978. The mission of the non-profit organization is to carry out a community offensive against crime by working with the community, law enforcement, and the media to solve crimes. Through our program, criminal information is received anonymously, sent to our law enforcement partners, and cases are published through the media. Additionally, tipsters are rewarded monetarily if their tip results in an arrest. Our ongoing efforts resulted in a 59% increase in cases cleared and a 46% increase in arrests for 2021. The program also gained 4,000 new followers on social media, and our website traffic increased by 13%, about half the population of the city. In addition, we were recognized by the Governor’s Office as having cleared the most cases for a population of our size in 2020. This shows the effectiveness of Crime Stoppers of El Paso and how we engage with the community and foster trust. Since inception, Crime Stoppers of El Paso has helped arrest 4,625 subjects, cleared 6,150 cases, recovered $48,852,360 in narcotics, $44,484,474 in recovered property, and have issued $1,183,050 in rewards. The program also supports the initiatives of local law enforcement agencies. We regularly work with the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, campus police, and many other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The program also takes tips related to criminal activity occurring on school grounds. Students are able to call our tipline to anonymously report information. In turn,

Social Media Platforms

Sergeant Robert Gomez Sergeant Enrique Carrillo Detective Judy Oviedo Officer Adrian Cisneros Officer Jesus Becerra

Sergeant Javier Sambrano

The Public Information Office’s mission is to provide information to the public in a timely manner for emergencies, traffic incidents, investigations, current events, and crime trends. This is accomplished by posting press releases through the Department’s website, posting information on six social media sites to include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Nextdoor, and YouTube. The PIO also hosts virtual meetings that the public can participate in and ask questions as well as providing information through interviews with the members of the media.

/ElPasoPolice /eppolice /eppolicetraffic /eppolice

Facebook Twitter Twitter Traffic Instagram YouTube Nextdoor

Arrests Tips Received Calls Received Cleared Cases Rewards

54 1,232 2,236 167

/ElPasoPoliceDepartment /el-paso-police-department

Press Releases Call-Outs Virtual Townhall Meetings Held

292 35 2 536 265,647 9,151

$27,200.00 $177,473.00 $11,00.00

Recovered Narcotics Recovered Property

Media Notifications Sent Social Media Followers Social Media Posts

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Internal Affairs

Code Enforcement

Lieutenant Robert Zavala, Jr.

Interim Manager Jimmy Smith

The El Paso Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is comprised of one

With COVID cases declining, the COVID Response Team became the 4/10 Response Team. The 4/10 Response Team assists with weekend and evening calls related to nuisance Code issues. The Code Enforcement Team continued assisting EPPD officers with enforcing the city’s Noise Ordinance in regards to drinking establishments. Beginning in March of this year, bars whose noise level measured at 70.1 or above were found to be in violation and issued a NOV (Notice of Violation). The NOV is equivalent to a Class C citation in that the recipient must either pay the fine or appear in court to answer to the NOV before a Municipal Court judge. Currently all Code Officers work on a varied schedule on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to ensure noise levels are within capacity and adhering to the City Ordinance. After the passing of Code Administrator Richard Adams in October of 2020, Interim Code Administrator Jimmy Smith and Interim Code Manager Amy Orona have overseen the daily operations of the Code Enforcement Bureau, ensuring that all the needs of the division are met. The Code Enforcement Bureau looks to the future. As our City grows, so does the Code Enforcement Bureau. Ten new officers were hired in December to fulfill vacancies that had been pending on all four teams. A larger Code Bureau will benefit our community with a greater strength of service in numbers.

The Code Enforcement

Bureau is made up

lieutenant, three sergeants, and 14 investigators. These men and women are responsible for the maintenance of professional police conduct and ensuring the overall integrity of the Department. Internal Affairs ensures due process is afforded to all officers of the El Paso Police Department in the discipline process. We are always looking to improve in having a well-trained section and making strides in utilizing technology to enhance all investigations. In 2021, the Force Investigations Team was created, which oversees and manages all use of force incidents involving officers. Every complaint handled by our office is given due diligence so that the facts are brought to light. This ensures we uphold and maintain the integrity of the El Paso Police Department.

of four teams that enforce the City’s Municipal Ordinances. Each team is assigned to one of the five regional command areas. The Northeast, Central, and West Side Regional Command areas are overseen by CFOS (Code Field Operations Supervisor) D. Hernandez. The Pebble Hills and Mission Valley areas are overseen by CFOS D. Soto. This year, Code Management participated in assisting with two Cross Functional Teams. In the High Priority Corridors team, Code Management assisted with identifying traffic corridors around El Paso in need of heavier enforcement in respect to the higher number of Code cases reported in those areas. Code Management also assisted with the newly passed Convenience Store Ordinance by helping to develop the Convenience Store inspection checklist, pricing for the application process and the registration application. Code Enforcement enforce the new ordinance as well as process the annual CSO inspections. The Code Enforcement COVID Response Team was created in 2020 to assist other departments and agencies with to concerns related to COVID, which continued to threaten the health and safety of our community and nation in 2021.

Complaints Reported by IA Cases Investigated by IA Cases Screened by IA Use of Force Incidents - Documented only Use of Force Incidents Investigated by IA Use of Force Incidents (Documented and Investigated) Cases Resulted in Disciplinary Action

Notice of Violations Parking Citations Total Code Cases Presentations Given Entertainment District Notice of Violations Given Total Entertainment District Inspections Conducted Cases Referred to Court Cases Referred for Clean-up to Clean El Paso

237 102 19 1,009

92 319 45,744 3 36

6,624

1,069

186 7,252

120

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Lieutenant Jaime Esparza

Commander John Lanahan Pebble Hills Regional Command Commander Thomas Pena Central Regional Command

DWI Task Force Lieutenant

Lieutenant Steven Schmidt Special Services Division Jaime Velasquez Headquarters Traffic

The Police Officers, Code Enforcement Officers, Civilians and Volunteers are dedicated to setting the standard for a Safe and Secure City. I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks for their loyalty and hard work. Our success depends on the quality of our team members and we recognize and appreciate your contributions and achievements. Thank you all.

Uniform Police Bureau I

Assistant Chief Victor Zarur

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Pebble Hills Regional Command

Central Regional Command

become involved in which include the Citizen’s Advisory Board, Public Safety Cadets, Safety Town, National Night Out, Pride Day, and Neighborhood Watch Programs. PHRC also invites the community to participate in the ride along program. The dedicated officers and staff of the Pebble Hills Regional Command are committed to reducing crime and continue to build and maintain strong partnerships within the community in order to improve the quality of life for everyone to enjoy.

The Pebble Hills Regional Command Center (PHRC) officially opened in 1994, and is located at 10780 Pebble Hills. PHRC has a large, diverse community that is located on the eastside portion of the city of El Paso. The Pebble Hills area has experienced phenomenal residential and business growth in recent years. The region includes the area east of Buffalo Soldier Road to the eastern city limits and north of Interstate 10. The Pebble Hills Regional Command’s staff is comprised of 175 sworn officers, six civilian employees, and five volunteers. Sworn officers are assigned in the patrol, traffic, criminal investigations, juvenile investigations, tactical unit, and community services section. The Pebble Hills Regional Command’s location affords citizens the ability to pay traffic citations, set court dates, obtain copies of police reports, and report minor traffic accidents. The center has a community room that can be reserved in advance to hold community meetings. The center also offers a variety of community programs that citizens can

Calls for Service Dispatched Events Officer Initiated Investigative and Tactical Units

2021 came to a close with the Central Regional Command (CRCC) continuing to address issues relating to the Coronavirus pandemic. CRCC’s main objective was the safety of sworn and civilian staff and the community. CRCC routinely took preventative steps to combating the Coronavirus, such as fogging CRCC, the Metro Office, and the Par Office. Marked and unmarked units were regularly decontaminated for the safety of our staff and those within our community. Additionally, civilian staff who could remotely work from home were encouraged to do so, thus minimizing personnel in the station. CRCC continued to address crime trends and focus on calls for service, deploying specialty units as necessary to mitigate the change in trends. CRCC personnel were able to handle multiple protests, special events, and parades throughout the year. CRCC shifts and sections were able to implement traffic plans to address vehicle and pedestrian collisions. Due to changes in state law, CRCC personnel worked in partnership with community groups, other city departments, and non-governmental organizations to address an increase in calls for service in regards to homelessness and public camping. Lastly, CRCC emphasized shift training and training days that had an increased focus on officer safety. Central Regional Command's devoted sworn and civilian staff are committed to continuing their mission supporting the community by continuing to strengthen and improve partnerships while curtailing crime throughout the region.

64,375 62,375

75,215 19,736

Cases Assigned Cases Cleared Staffing

2,879 937

7,142 4,676

Sworn Personnel Civilian Personnel

178 17

173 6

Police Area Representatives Events Held (Virtual & In-Person) Event Attendants

115 3,446

266 6,355

Part 1 Crime Cases Murder Aggravated Assault Robbery Forcible Rape Burglary Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft 10 267 70 119 267 1,119 281

Part 1 Crime Cases Murder Aggravated Assault Robbery Forcible Rape Burglary Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft 9 357 56 208 186 1,998 258

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Airport

Special Services Division

Special Traffic Investigation Cases Assigned (Hit-and-Run/DWI) Fatalities Investigated Traffic Fatalities Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities Speed-Related Traffic Fatalities Call-Outs

With the addition of the Passenger Screening Canines came the ELP TSA K9 Volunteer Decoy Program. The decoy program brings in community volunteers to act as passengers. The volunteers are fitted with training aids and put the PSC teams to the test in real-time, real-world training scenarios. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are all part of the El Paso community. The ELP TSA K9 Volunteer Decoy Program is a collaborative effort between the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso International Airport, and the Transportation Security Administration. In 2021, the ELP TSA Explosive Detection Canine Unit obtained two new K9s, K9 Brita and K9 Laky. Officer Nevarez retired his partner, K9 Mira, to the comforts of his family’s home. He then transitioned to, and certified with, K9 Brita. Officer R. Looney completed the 4-month initial handler certification training and was paired with K9 Laky. The teams responded to three large-scale callouts that met the TSA criteria for EDC searches: Community College Early College, Speaking Rock Casino, and a bomb threat requiring the search of 12 passenger aircraft on the ground. The teams conducted VIP sweeps for numerous government officials, including the Vice President, the DHS Secretary, and various ranking senators and representatives. The teams conducted sweeps for eight concerts at the Don Haskins Center, a professional NHL game held at the County Colosseum, the Sun Bowl Game, and the El Paso Winterfest Light Parade. The teams also provided sweeps for funerals and honors of local law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Special Traffic Investigations (STI) began using a FARO 3D Scanner to enhance our Crash investigations. This new technology allows STI to quickly capture the scene in virtual 3D detailing the roadway, vehicles, and environment. This allows accurate measurements for the crash reconstruction which will allow anyone who views this 3D presentation to have a better understanding of that crash scene. The scanner also captures the scene quicker than the total station surveying equipment, which then allows us to open roadways sooner.

3,920 85

K9 Brita

K9 Nik

K9 Fantom

75 28 32 109

Hours Trained Officer Cano & K9 Nik Officer Goroeoff & K9 Fantom Officer Looney & K9 Laky Officer Nevarez & K9 Brita Sergeant Melendez & K9 Riki Total Hours Trained

1,446 1,757 436 1,437 1,795 8,611

The ELP TSA Explosives Detection Program is a collaboration between the Transportation Security Administration, the El Paso International Airport, and the El Paso Police Department. El Paso Police Department officers are sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX for their initial handler certification. Upon completion, the handlers are paired with TSA-owned canines and deployed within the El Paso International Airport. The ELP TSA Explosive Detection Canine (EDC) Unit currently has two teams, Officer M. Goroeoff with K9 Fantom and Officer A. Nevarez with K9 Brita. These teams are able to use currents in the air to detect explosive residue. Their primary duty is within the El Paso International Airport, but they can operate throughout the transportation system. In 2021, the ELP TSA Explosive Detection Program expanded to include Passenger Screening Canines (PSC). Passenger Screening Canines are able to utilize the same skills as the Explosive Detection Canines to detect explosives, but they are specifically trained to work in and around passengers and people. This expansion has allowed the ELP TSA K9 program to add an additional layer of security by screening passengers in the real-time travel environment.

The El Paso Police Department’s Safe Communities section focuses on community partnerships and participation in developing strategies that respond to the community’s traffic safety needs, with

The program’s goal is to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities within the city of El Paso. Safe Communities seeks to assist and/or reduce and prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries including pedestrians’ deaths by making the public aware of local ordinances, laws, and prevention efforts that the community can participate in. Safe Communities works diligently to change and influence behaviors that contribute to fatalities and injury regarding pedestrian safety, risk of bicycle and vehicle collision, and other related and preventable traffic incidents. The purpose of Safe Communities is to create and build on safe behaviors that include the use of child restraints, seatbelts, and the understanding of local laws and requirements that could encourage the community to participate and/or change their old behaviors into new and improved safe behaviors. Safe Communities works hard with community-based resources and grants from community partners like State Farm to purchase educational material and traffic safety-related equipment, to utilize in local events that are intended to support safe behaviors thereby reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries.

Searches

an emphasis on building safe, resilient, and traffic smarter communities. The program’s purpose is to address community concerns and to engage, educate and promote traffic safety awareness through education, prevention, and intervention. Safe Communities focuses on the education, distribution of promotional material, and campaigns that stress prevention and safety in the following areas: Driving While Intoxicated, Underage Drinking and Driving, Speeding, Distracted Driving, Pedestrian, Seatbelt and Car Seat Safety. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program shifted to a virtual format and engaged in inclusive virtual community engagements.

Safe Communities

Safe Communities Meetings & Trainings

K9 Laky

K9 Riki

241 99 123 14,550 320 45

Community Events Total Presentations

Participants Aged 0-18 Participants Aged 19-65 Participants Older than 65

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

New Initiative: High Performance Vehicle Unit High Performance Vehicle Unit

Headquarters Traffic

The Motors Unit officers successfully completed a 3-week Northwestern University Motors Instructor Course at the Florence, Texas DPS Training Facility and brought back the latest motors-related operations knowledge to impart to the rest of the unit. Motors officers led 25 funeral escorts and 24 non-funeral motorcade escorts in 2021. They conduced traffic control during 13 special events. 53,212 total citations and warnings were issued. 17 community presentations were conducted at events like School Career Days, Coffee With A Cop Events, Fort Bliss Motorcycle Safety Presentations, and TXDOT Traffic Safety Campaign Kick-offs. Motors officers instructed 139 pre-service and in-service training sessions at the Police Academy in topics such as traffic procedures, radar

recertification, taser recertification, firearms instruction, emergency vehicle operation class, high performance vehicle recertification, motors recertification, and TECC Tier 1 Patrol training. The vision of the EPPD is to create a unified traffic division that is responsible for making the roadways safer for the citizens of El Paso through traffic enforcement, traffic

Total Citations/Warnings Issued Hazardous Citations Issued Non-Hazardous Citations Issued Parking/Misc Citations Issued Written Warnings Issued Special Events Funeral Honor Escorts Non-Funeral Motorcade Escorts Traffic Presentations Multi-Agency Traffic Enforcement Operations

53,212 34,326 14,500 88 4,298

13 25 24 17 7

investigations, and traffic safety awareness/education. In addition, SSD’s and HQ Traffic’s resources will be used to aid the City of El Paso with the Vision Zero Traffic Safety Program Plan.

With the growing traffic safety needs of the City of El Paso, and for increased efficiency and promotion of public safety, the Special Services Division (SSD) expanded and entered into Phase II of the EPPD Traffic Plan in 2021. A High Performance Vehicle Unit (HPVU) was implemented on October 3, 2021. The HPVU merged with Motors, and has been newly designated as

Headquarters Traffic. Five high performance Mustang vehicles were transferred from the regional commands to Headquarters Traffic, along with five operators who are certified in the High Performance Vehicle Course. The duties of the High Performance Vehicle Unit are to work traffic complaints and high collision intersections while enforcing and deterring traffic violations.

Additional duties are to handle city-wide traffic complaints, to investigate crashes, impound abandoned vehicles on state highways, assist with traffic control at special events, assist with funeral honor escorts, assist with motorcade escort operations, and to manage special events assigned by the Parade Coordinator and One Stop Shop.

DWI Task Force

In 2021, our focus was in “hot spot” areas to enforce DWI violations and also to deter other crimes with high visibility enforcement. The DWI Task Force also conducted several DWI awareness trainings to the youth and adults in the community. The DWI Task Force received several regional and national awards in 2021 for reducing crashes and saving lives, along with recognition for spreading DWI awareness in the community.

Arrests Citations Issued Felony Cases Handled Misdemeanor Cases Handled

Hazardous Citations Issued Non-Hazardous Citations Issued Written Warnings Issued Presentations

1,381 2,231 160

1,363

868

1,171 24

1,221

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Commander Julia Inciriaga Northeast Regional Command Commander Robert Ramos Mission Valley Regional Command Commander Steven Lopez West Side Regional Command

Lieutenant Ken Law Special Operations Group Lieutenant Robert Pisarcik Crisis Intervention Team Lieutenant Jason Johnson Training Academy

On behalf of the all the civilians and sworn personnel in Uniform Police Bureau II, we would like to thank our El Paso community for the privilege to serve the City of El Paso. As all El Paso Police Department personnel, we work hard every day to attain excellence. It was probably best stated by Aristotle when he said: “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way… you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.”

Uniform Police Bureau II

Assistant Chief Peter Pacillas

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Northeast Regional Command

West Side Regional Command

beautification cleanups throughout west El Paso in 2021. The Community Services Unit received information from citizens, patrol officers, and 3-1-1 in areas that needed cleanup. A total of 13 cleanups were conducted with Code Compliance. The West Side Regional Command spearheaded many projects that were successful and will continue being so in the future. Mental health for officers is a very important topic and the West Side Regional Command, along with the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association, held a Wellness Benefit event at the Academy on September 24th. This event served to lay the foundation for other major events in the future to ensure officers are properly cared for when it comes to their mental health. In late May, the Community Services Unit was contacted by the First Responders Children Foundation in New York who were willing to donate a large quantity of toys to our local community. The West Side took this opportunity to have a toy giveaway on June 26th. They were able to reach the community with approximately 2,500 toys. This event showed how the citizens and the police department work together to reach out to local families.

The Northeast Regional Command is centered in the Northeast portion of El Paso. The region extends from the eastern slopes of the Franklin Mountains to the edge of Texas. Eight defined districts share close ties with Fort Bliss, Texas. From the Old Glory Memorial to the Fort Bliss Cemetery that defines the southeastern border, we proudly honor all who have served our Country and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The El Paso Museum of Archeology, opened in October 12, 1977, hosts the annual Franklin Mountain Poppies Fest each Spring when the California poppies are in bloom and turn the mountainside a majestic golden hue. The Northeast Regional Command is staffed with 112 dedicated sworn peace officers that provide excellent customer service and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the community. The command is comprised of personnel that provide investigative, traffic, and community service needs. In 2021 alone, the Northeast Regional Command’s investigative team saw more than a 23% reduction in overall property crimes. The Community Services Unit successfully hosted the 7th Annual Community Fair that invites nearly 270 vendors each year and is visited by over 3,000 community members. This event is sponsored by local businesses and residents that contribute tirelessly to the success of the community. The Northeast Regional Command is experiencing substantial growth with new subdivisions and schools being built. For this reason, the Northeast Regional Command have invited the public to join during the Citizen Advisory Meeting because input from our most valued stakeholders, the community, is welcomed! For the upcoming year, leaders frequently meet to discuss action plans to deliver the most cutting edge crime reduction tools and innovative programs to work in partnership with the community to enhance the quality of life in the City of El Paso.

In 2021, West El Paso continued to experience an increase in population, businesses, and residential neighborhoods. The population increase and business startups directly correlated with the 8% increase in the overall crime rate for 2021. The West Side adopted the Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS), a new policing strategy to reduce crime and crashes in their community. This identified hot spots where officers were needed. The implementation of proactive policing yielded positive results by reducing traffic incidents and crime. As COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the Cincinnati Entertainment District (CED) drew large crowds each weekend, resulting in increased crime in the area. To mitigate criminal activity and ensure code compliance and safety, the West Side Regional Command provided a high police presence during the operation period to deter and take enforcement action against criminals. There have been over 2,000 noise readings gathered in order to maintain minimal sound levels, including issuing 51 total citations. The Community Services Unit conducted a vast variety of

Calls for Service Dispatched Events Officer Initiated Investigative and Tactical Units

29,252 16,912

52,729 13,900

Cases Assigned Cases Cleared Staffing

3,693 1,729

2,201 1,222

Sworn Personnel Civilian Personnel

114 5

112 3

Police Area Representatives Events Held (Virtual & In-Person) Event Attendants

76 6,500

134 7,780

Part 1 Crime Cases Murder Aggravated Assault Robbery Forcible Rape Burglary Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft 4 102 30 56 141 1,255 226

Part 1 Crime Cases Murder Aggravated Assault Robbery Forcible Rape Burglary Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft 10 166 69 121 198 961 214

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Mission Valley Regional Command

Training Academy

Pre-Service – Beginning with the 128th Academy Recruit Class, the El Paso Police Training Academy initiated the brand new Texas Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) 696. With this new course came the longest academy class on record at 10 months and one week due to it adding additional hours. The class was also longer because the academy added new and additional courses of department training. Among the newly added department courses were mental health-related trainings on Dealing with Grief, Self-Injury, Excited Delirium, Emergency Detention, the Intellectually Disabled, and Medication Induced Movement Disorder. In total, each recruit received 1,612 training hours. When it came time for the recruits to take the new Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Licensing Exam, they had a 100% passing score. This is noteworthy because many police academies throughout Texas have had mass failure rates on the new exam.

Administration – The Administration section continued to manage all sworn personnel in database certifications such as NEXTEST and CJIS as required by the State of Texas. The Administration section was responsible for facilitating over 157,288 training hours for 1,146 sworn officers in 2021. In addition, the Administration section coordinated 2,340 courses, which ensured 189 sworn officers received advanced peace officer certifications. The Administration section was instrumental in updating the veterans’ payment benefits to reflect the changes in training hours for the State of Texas. This involved exhausting hours of preparation, a passing audit, and a successful submission to Veterans Affairs.

The Mission Valley Regional Command (MVRC) consists of an area which includes the Tigua Indian Reservation and the boundaries north of the Zaragoza International Bridge (Ysleta Port of Entry), and covering seven districts in the region. The Mission Valley Regional Command (MVRC) had a successful year in 2021. Despite having the least amount of personnel compared to the other regions, MVRC still ended the year with a decrease of 4% in crime. This was accomplished by the strong work ethic and dedication

Calls for Service Dispatched Events Officer Initiated Investigative and Tactical Units

30,129 15,922

Hours Taught to Civilians Civilians taught Hours Taught to Officers Officers taught Courses Taught For Civilians Courses Taught For Officers Courses Taught For Cadets Presentations

3,510 362

97,768 21,407 22 1,851 107 5

Cases Assigned Cases Cleared Staffing

2,031 1,035

possessed by the region’s officers, detectives, and supervisors.

Sworn Personnel Civilian Personnel

74 6

Police Area Representatives Events Held (Virtual & In-Person) Event Attendants

32 5,201

In-Service – The In-service section implemented a new triennial department training program consisting of two 10-hour days of training on Implicit Bias, Duty to Intervene, Basic Criminal Investigations, and Stress Inoculation. In-service staff additionally created a new course entitled Sleep Deprivation, Disruptions, and Disorders. They collaborated with the Pre-service section to provide the recruits versions of these courses. The In-service section continued the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) Course, which has now been delivered to approximately 75% of the Department’s sworn personnel. The TECC allows officers to provide critical care to major injuries in the field and become a life sustaining entity until trained medical personnel arrive. Lastly, In-service launched the Integrated Police/Fire Response Course, which prepares sworn officers for response to large scale critical incidents such as mass casualty events.

Part 1 Crime Cases Murder Aggravated Assault Robbery Forcible Rape Burglary Larceny-Theft Motor Vehicle Theft 5 157 32 54 130 739 173

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

In 2021, the ComSAR team responded to over 20 call outs. Some incidents were difficult to maneuver in because of terrain and injuries to the patients. Most rescues were technical rescues where team members had to incorporate rope systems, and one rescue required the assistance of a helicopter. Four new members joined the ComSAR team in 2021. In November, eight ComSAR team members successfully completed the two-week Rope Technician Course at the West Valley Fire Station.

Combined Search and Rescue Team Call-Outs Rescues Training Hours Completed 21 21 2,560

Special Operations Group

Since 2000, SWAT has undertook the task of training the entire department on Active Shooter Response. From May- August 2021, SWAT provided annual Active Shooter Response Training to all departmental members from the ranks of police officer to lieutenant. Training was conducted every Tuesday and Thursday until all sworn personnel had completed their annual refresher training.

Special Weapons and Tactical High Risk Warrants Served Barricaded Incidents SWAT Unit Activations Training Hours Completed Hazardous Device Technicians Call-Outs Items Defused or Retrieved Training Hours Completed

Dignitary Protection continued executing their protective responsibilities with 100% incident-free protection during several major special events including a Homeland Secretary Mayorka’s visits, Vice President Kamala Harris’ US-Mexico border visit, and Senator Ted Cruz’s visit. The Dignitary Team also protected the Mayor during the August 3 and the September 11 memorials. A new physical training assessment was developed by current team members and implemented into a two-day tryout. A Dignitary Protection tryout was held during April 28 and 29. Only the top seven candidates were selected.

62 26 88 21,719

Dignitary Protection Operations

138 235 2,107

Operations with City Hall Training Hours Completed

Due to COVID, gatherings and presentations were not possible until mid-year in July. From July to the close of the year SOG resumed conducting over a dozen presentations in the community. In August, SOG SWAT, Bomb, and ComSAR, in partnership with the EPMPOA and Child Advocacy Center, did an event for children highlighting the department’s specialty teams. In September, another significant community event where SOG showcased its teams was the EPPD Gala held at the Academy, hosted by the EPMPOA and Commander Lopez from the WSRC.

During 2021, CMT trained the entire department on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), a mental health course. ACEs introduced the concepts of early unpredictable stressors, losses, and adversities that children face as it will shape their biology in ways that predetermine their adult mental and physical health. This course also gave officers recovery methods known as the “sacred seven.” ACEs was a course that took a hard look into the background of what an individual may be facing without even knowing. CMT also led trainings that incorporated Texas Troopers and school district police that involved high risk negotiations.

Crisis Management Team Deployments Training Hours Completed 33 5,789

52 11 7,680

K-9

Tactical Flight Officers Flights Flown Hours Flown Number of Events/Calls

The Tactical Flight officers are attached to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Aircraft Division. DPS Aircraft provide air support to all law enforcement agencies in Region 4, as the region is large and diverse. TFO is a vital member of the aircrew, possessing the necessary skills to communicate with ground units, manage scenes, and handle the camera surveillance equipment. TFO provides a tactical insight and coordination to the ground units to accomplish the mission. The TFO can also provide Aerial Use of Force, assist in search and rescue operations, drug interdiction, and prisoner transport.

K9 was able to complete a new handler academy which consisted of a 21-week academic and physical training curriculum which challenged both handler and dog. On Dec 20, 2021, the department gained four new K9 teams to assist with patrol and narcotics detection.

Patrol Calls Observed Calls Vehicles Checked

1,319 199 3,222 258 58 16 2,559

310 924 388 722 59 388

Narcotics Searches Building Searches Area Searches Training Hours Completed

Suspects Located Suspect Arrests Training Hours Completed

2021 Annual Report

El Paso Police Department

Crisis Intervention Team

Department Contractors: Partners In Service

in the city and county of El Paso. The CIT Specialists all have, at minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and many hours of experience working with patients in crisis. The CIT Specialists play a vital role in helping CIT officers. Below are a few of their duties: Emergence Health Network (EHN)

The El Paso Police Crisis Intervention Team continues to strive to provide professional service to members of El Paso community that find themselves in a mental health crisis. El Paso is a melting pot of cultures and people partly because of the close proximity to the border, but also because of the large military population. Both active duty and those that have retired from the military to make El Paso their home. In 2021, the El Paso Police Crisis Intervention Team has responded to thousands of calls for service. Year after year, the officers in the Crisis Intervention Team continue to hone their skills, always seeking to improve their response to those in a mental health crisis. Active listening and a general understanding of mental health symptoms have been key to the success

of our officers and mental health specialists out in the field. In 2021, the Crisis Intervention Team was pleased to learn that a CIT officer, along with a DWI Task force officer, were awarded the prestigious lifesaving award for their actions, which ultimately gave someone a second chance at life. CIT officers were also recognized by the US Army’s Second Armored Brigade Combat Team, First Armored Division for their work and care for the mental and physical well-being of a US Army soldier in a mental health crisis. These awards signify the great work that not only CIT, but all El Paso Police Officers do on a daily basis. The Crisis Intervention Team is committed and will always be committed to helping those in our community in mental health crisis.

Since the inception of the Crisis Intervention Team in 2018, CIT officers have been paired up to work with, and respond to calls for service together with, a mental health specialist. The CIT unit has 14 mental health specialist which are selected by Emergence Health Network (EHN). EHN is the local mental health authority

• Help officers de-escalate situations in the community • Help link citizens in the community to mental health services • EHN Mental Health Specialists are available to assist as a resource to CIT officers, and can provide mental health history about citizens encountered in the field, which can be very helpful to CIT officers in making a determination if emergency intervention is necessary. The co-deployment model used by the El Paso Police Department has been widely accepted by the community. A big part of that is the mental health specialist being able to respond safely along with a police officer to help citizens in crisis. Paso County Jail facilities and other facilities as deemed necessary and requested by EPPD staff, and/or transportation services to pick up prisoners at other locations. In 2021, the AUS team Live Scanned a total of 7,772 individuals and transported 6,555 arrestees.

Dispatched Calls for Service Observed Calls for Service Total Calls for Service

6,153 496 6,649 1,439 436 4,035 298 60

Emergency Detention Orders Processed Mental Health Reports Completed Adult Checks

Juvenile Checks Vehicle Checks

Allied Universal – G4S

that no other large-scale commercial program requires candidates to possess as to the amount of security education and experience. Each candidate must have achieved at least one of the following to qualify: • Military service that included law enforcement or security duties (e.g., military police, elite military forces and combat arms) or support in a combat zone • A minimum of eight or more years of service in any military branch • A Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or criminal justice • An Associate degree in law enforcement or criminal justice with current or prior active military service • Graduate from a certified Public Safety Academy (military or civilian) or verified work experience in the law enforcement, adult corrections, or firefighter field The main duties of the CPOs are processing and oversight of arrestees while at client premises, transportation and booking of EPPD arrestees into El

Allied Universal (AUS) is the largest provider of armed protective services to government contracts. Their experience includes numerous major armed security programs such as Critical Infrastructure, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), court systems, and public buildings for city, county, state, and federal jurisdictions. AUS protective services include security, federal law enforcement, fire prevention, transit systems, fare enforcement. The partnership with the El Paso Police Department provides Custody Officer Services. The goal is to harness their vast custody experience and couple it with the best practices from other custody facilities to ensure the most cost efficient and highest quality solution for servicing jail facilities. The Custom Protection Officer (CPO) operating this contract must meet specific requirements. CPOs begin their careers possessing abilities and qualifications

2021 Annual Report

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