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Chief says he's taking steps to a safer city
By Tereasa Nims: tereasa_nims@terrelltribune.com
Terrell Police Service Chief Todd Miller says he is taking steps to make the city safer in 2008.
“There are a number of things we want to try to accomplish,” Miller said.
One top priority is to fill vacant positions.
“We are real short on dispatchers and community service officers,” Miller said.
“This impacts our ability to provide good, quality service.”
TPS is authorized to have five community service officers and the department is two short. CSOs wear police uniforms but are not sworn officers.
They meet with residents, do jail booking and transport inmates.
Miller said the department is allowed 10 dispatchers and is four short.
Miller doesn't anticipate a loss of officers in the next budget year, which begins in October.
But he isn't sure there will be an increase.
As the community continues to grow, TPS will need to add officers. Unfortunately, the revenue from the growth isn't there, yet.
Another item on the new year's agenda is accreditation from the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
“We're going to work this year to make strides toward accreditation,” Miller said. “Accreditation forces you to look at policies and procedures.”
“It's a form of risk management,” Miller said. “It puts us in a better position to provide quality service.”
Another area getting attention in 2008 is training. This includes training for investigators, road patrol, forensics, supervisors and managers.
“We also want to increase training in dealing with citizens who are of diminished capacity or who are suffering from various illnesses. Some people may appear intoxicated but they may be suffering from a medical condition or mental illness,” Miller said.
The chief said the department will get mandated state training on dealing with such people.
Some Terrell residents say they don't feel the police are doing enough.
“Crime seems high,” said Jane Nickerson. “It seems like people in Terrell have lost their moral values.”
While talking about the crime rate, some residents said they think drugs play a role in the crime rate.
“Not a day goes by when you don't hear about police busting someone for drugs,” said Hector Gonzalez, of Terrell.
Enhanced community relations are another area the chief wants to address in 2008.
“Crime is a community issue,” Miller said. “The way to resolve crime is to work with the community.
“We are going to work harder to build community relations. We want to develop more trust in the community.”
Miller said people need to get involved when they see crime happen and that includes being willing to call police.
“I want to feel better-protected,” said C. Hawkins, who didn't want to use her first name. “I don't feel safe in Terrell.”
Hawkins said she's had her car window shot out and nearly had her purse stolen while walking on Moore Avenue.
“I don't think that's the norm for every city,” Hawkins said. “But I don't know.”
Miller said the crime rate is high in Terrell, but he said crime numbers are a complex item.
He said in 2007, TPS arrested one man who was allegedly responsible for more than 200 property damage reports.
Miller said crime continues to decline. TPS responded to 29,548 calls in 2006 and 28,668 in 2007.
“We won't extinguish crime,” Miller said. “We want to try to get it to an acceptable level and we don't think it's there, yet.”
“There are a number of things we want to try to accomplish,” Miller said.
One top priority is to fill vacant positions.
“We are real short on dispatchers and community service officers,” Miller said.
“This impacts our ability to provide good, quality service.”
TPS is authorized to have five community service officers and the department is two short. CSOs wear police uniforms but are not sworn officers.
They meet with residents, do jail booking and transport inmates.
Miller said the department is allowed 10 dispatchers and is four short.
Miller doesn't anticipate a loss of officers in the next budget year, which begins in October.
But he isn't sure there will be an increase.
As the community continues to grow, TPS will need to add officers. Unfortunately, the revenue from the growth isn't there, yet.
Another item on the new year's agenda is accreditation from the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
“We're going to work this year to make strides toward accreditation,” Miller said. “Accreditation forces you to look at policies and procedures.”
“It's a form of risk management,” Miller said. “It puts us in a better position to provide quality service.”
Another area getting attention in 2008 is training. This includes training for investigators, road patrol, forensics, supervisors and managers.
“We also want to increase training in dealing with citizens who are of diminished capacity or who are suffering from various illnesses. Some people may appear intoxicated but they may be suffering from a medical condition or mental illness,” Miller said.
The chief said the department will get mandated state training on dealing with such people.
Some Terrell residents say they don't feel the police are doing enough.
“Crime seems high,” said Jane Nickerson. “It seems like people in Terrell have lost their moral values.”
While talking about the crime rate, some residents said they think drugs play a role in the crime rate.
“Not a day goes by when you don't hear about police busting someone for drugs,” said Hector Gonzalez, of Terrell.
Enhanced community relations are another area the chief wants to address in 2008.
“Crime is a community issue,” Miller said. “The way to resolve crime is to work with the community.
“We are going to work harder to build community relations. We want to develop more trust in the community.”
Miller said people need to get involved when they see crime happen and that includes being willing to call police.
“I want to feel better-protected,” said C. Hawkins, who didn't want to use her first name. “I don't feel safe in Terrell.”
Hawkins said she's had her car window shot out and nearly had her purse stolen while walking on Moore Avenue.
“I don't think that's the norm for every city,” Hawkins said. “But I don't know.”
Miller said the crime rate is high in Terrell, but he said crime numbers are a complex item.
He said in 2007, TPS arrested one man who was allegedly responsible for more than 200 property damage reports.
Miller said crime continues to decline. TPS responded to 29,548 calls in 2006 and 28,668 in 2007.
“We won't extinguish crime,” Miller said. “We want to try to get it to an acceptable level and we don't think it's there, yet.”
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Ironman wrote on Jan 28, 2008 9:10 AM:
Your choice. "