Annual Report - City of Lufkin

Lieutenant Scott Cagnon
Support Services Division
ANNUAL REPORT
2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from the Chief ………………………. 3
Mission Statement and Values…………..… 4
Criminal Investigations Division………….. 28
Crime Scene & Spec Inv…………… 29
AFIS, Property & Polygraph…….. 30
Support Services Division……………………. 31
Communications…………………….. 32
Records………………………….……….. 33
Fleet Maintenance………….………. 34
Public Information Officer…….... 35
Field Training & S.O.A.P.…………. 36
Traffic Safety & Crash Recon…... 37
Special Response Team…..………. 38
Honor Guard & Chaplain…………. 39
Animal Control Division………………………. 40
2014 Crime Report…………..……………… 5
Crime Volume and Trends..…….. 6
The Crime Rate..……………………… 7
Violent Crimes………..….…………… 8
Property Crimes……..………………..9
Stolen Property & Clearances….10
2014 Crime Clock.……………….....11
2014 LPD Annual Report………..….……12
Response Times………………………. 13
Traffic Crash Reports……….……… 14
Vehicle Stops…………………………… 15
Racial Profiling Statistics…….…… 16
Arrests………………………………….….17
Use of Force................................18
Vehicle Pursuits…..………………….. 19
Budget……………………………………..20
Staffing…………………….…………….. 21
Organization & Structure…….….. 22
Administrative Division…………………….… 23
Recruitment and Backgrounds.. 24
Patrol Division…………………………………….. 25
A, B, and C Shifts………………………26
D, E, and F Shifts……………….…….. 27
Future Challenges and Opportunities….. 41
Dedication……………………………..……………. 42
2
Message from the Chief
As Lufkin’s police chief, it is with pleasure I present the Lufkin Police
Department’s 2014 Annual Report. The purpose of this report is to provide a
snapshot of information and statistics affecting our city and the Police
Department including crime, traffic, our staffing and budget, and what’s new
in our Department. Multi-year statistics are provided in many categories to
show where we’ve been and where we are now.
Also included in this report is the annual racial profiling data (pg.16) required
by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). This data will be
submitted to TCOLE via their standardized form prior to March 1st.
In 2014, we saw a minor increase in number of index crimes reported in Lufkin, including a slight rise in
violent crime. We had a higher than usual number of Aggravated Assaults in 2014, coinciding with an
increase in gang activity observed in late spring and early summer 2014. However, violent crime only
accounted for 7 percent of the overall index crimes reported in Lufkin in 2014. I am pleased to report
that despite a slight increase in property crimes, the number of burglaries reported declined again in
2014. Also of notable concern, was the rise in the number of traffic crashes during 2014, which may be,
in part, due the large amount of road construction in the city throughout last year.
Our Department remains committed to maintaining dispatch and patrol staffing. With resources
stretched thin, the Department has had to scale back and direct attention to priority calls for service
such as assaults, injury accidents, and crimes in progress. By the summer of 2014, the demand for
uniformed patrol response was so overwhelming that the decision was made to disband an entire
department division, including the Traffic and Narcotics Sections, and apply that manpower to bring the
Patrol Division up to adequate staffing.
In this year’s report on the Communications Section, you may notice a drop in the number of 9-1-1 calls
taken by our communications operators. In 2014, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department and Diboll
Dispatch call centers began taking their own jurisdictions 9-1-1 calls. Last year, just over 70 percent of
the 76,855 incoming 9-1-1 calls were handled by the Lufkin Police Departments Communications Center.
I hope you find this report informative. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I have been
presented. I feel honored to serve as Police Chief in a department staffed with professional men and
women dedicated to the citizens of Lufkin.
Sincerely,
Gerald Williamson
Chief of Police
MISSION STATEMENT
The Lufkin Police Department is committed to the reduction of crime and the
fear of crime by working with the community to preserve life and protect
property, maintain human rights, and promote individual responsibility. We
are dedicated to safeguarding public confidence and providing a safe place for
all to live, work, and raise families.
P rofessionalism
O bligation
L eadership
I ntegrity
C ourage
E fficeincy
4
2014 Annual Crime Report
Crime Measurements
Crime affects every citizen of Lufkin in some fashion. Each calendar year, the Lufkin Police Department
reports crime statistics to the FBI through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. After federal
review, these statistics become official and they are useful in tracking year-to-year incidents and trends.
There are a variety of crimes in the community; however, only certain crimes are tracked and used as an
indicator of the general crime picture in the community. This methodology allows for comparison
between communities and regions.
The Crime Index
To track the variations in crime, the UCR data collection program uses a statistical summary tool
referred to as the Crime Index. Rather than collecting reports of all crimes that were committed in a
particular year, UCR collects the reports of seven index crimes. The crimes in this group are all serious,
either by their very nature or because of the frequency with which they occur, and present a common
enforcement problem to police agencies.
Crimes within this index can be further categorized as violent crimes, which include murder, forcible
rape, robbery and aggravated assault, or as property crimes, which consist of burglary, larceny-theft,
and motor vehicle theft. By reducing the overall occurrence of crime to this Crime Index, the annual
comparison of crime trends is simplified. Although arson is an index crime in that the number of
reported offenses are collected, arson is not a part of the Crime Index.
Index Crimes in Lufkin from 2004-2014
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
5
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Crime Volume
2014 Lufkin Index Crime by Volume
In Texas, crime trends in cities are analyzed
using two separate methods: crime volume
and crime rates. Crime volume is merely the
aggregate sum of the Crime Index. By
comparing the crime volume from year to
year, trends in the number of crimes
committed can be studied. During calendar
year 2014, there was a reported total of 2,174
index offenses in Lufkin. The volume
increased 6 percent when compared to 2013.
Murder
Rape
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Violent Crime Total
Burglary
Larceny-Theft
Motor Vehicle Theft
Property Crime Total
GRAND TOTAL
Annual Crime Trends
2014
2
0
49
107
158
395
1554
67
2016
2174
2013
3
3
30
91
127
398
1,462
65
1925
2052
% Change
-33
-100
63
18
24
-1
6
3
5
6
Monthly crime variations show that, in general, crime occurrences peaked in the month of July.
Index Crimes by Month
250
200
150
100
50
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
2013
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2014
Crime Rates
Crime rates, however, are compiled to compensate for changes in the size of cities populations and to
show the number of people affected by crime in a given population. City crime rates are generally
expressed as the number of crimes per 1,000 residents. The crime rate is calculated by adding up the
total Part I UCR crimes of a city, dividing the sum by the total population and then multiplying by 1,000.
The crime rate reflects the rate of crime as it impacts a fixed population and does not consider the many
visitors that come into the city to work, recreate or visit Lufkin relatives.
During calendar year 2013, Lufkin’s crime rate was 56.5 percent based on the 2013 Lufkin Population of
36,315. The 2014 crime rate is not yet available as the 2014 population is not known at time of report.
6
Population in Lufkin from 2003-2013
37,000
36,500
36,000
35,500
35,000
34,500
34,000
33,500
33,000
32,500
32,000
31,500
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
The Uniform Crime Report index crime rate for Lufkin remains high in comparison to other cities our size
around the state. Of the comparable cities, the Lufkin Police Department has a larger than the average
patrol area of 34.08 square miles. In addition, the City of Lufkin is the business and industrial hub for our
county and some of the surrounding counties and is the host to two major regional hospitals. Our
department handles a daytime population well in excess of over 100,000 people. Due to sustained
growth, Lufkin is quickly catching up with the more urbanized suburban communities of the
metropolitan city areas. All considered, the reality is that there is no city without crime, and Lufkin is no
exception.
City
Rosenberg
Deer Park
Copperas Cove
Nacogdoches
La Porte
Del Rio
Schertz
Lufkin
Friendswood
Texarkana
Lancaster
Sherman
Duncanville
Huntsville
Dallas
Houston
Population
Total Offenses
Crime Rate
32,059
33,295
33,780
34,413
34,671
35,499
35,882
36,315
37,226
37,467
38,209
39,377
39,811
39,990
1,255,015
2,180,606
770
781
1,221
1,223
633
840
655
2,052
429
2,629
1,709
1,436
1,504
1,291
60,604
131,912
24.0
23.4
36.1
35.5
18.3
23.7
18.3
56.5
11.5
70.2
44.7
36.4
37.8
32.3
48.3
60.6
Source: Texas Department Of Public Safety. "The Texas Crime Report for 2013"
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/pages/crimestatistics.htm
7
Types of Crime
Type of Crime in Lufkin
Crime analysis generally looks at the two categories of
crime discussed above: violent crimes (or crimes
against persons) and property crimes. In 2014, 7
percent of Lufkin’s Crime Index were violent crimes
and 93 percent were property crimes.
Caution should always be used in viewing crime
statistics. In 2014, an alarm sales company
distributed an article portraying Lufkin as one of
“Texas’ most dangerous cities”. Their rankings
used UCR data, but they combined all crimes (violent
crimes and property crimes) to fabricate statistics.
Violent Crime
7%
Property Crime
93%
Violent Crimes
Violent Crime by Offense
Murder Rape
1%
1%
Robbery
31%
Violent crimes involve the element of personal
confrontation between the perpetrator and the
victim. Because of their nature, violent crimes are
considered to be more serious than property crimes.
A reported 158 violent crimes occurred during 2014, a
24 percent increase from 2013.
1 rape was reported in 2014, but was found through
investigation to be unfounded. Likewise, 1 of the 2
homicides reported to UCR in 2014 was found
through investigation to be self-defense and was not
a murder. Because this case was not closed until
January 2015, it did not reflect on UCR for 2014.
Aggravated Assault
67%
Violent Crime Offenses 2004-2014
250
200
150
100
50
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
8
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Property Crimes
Property Crime by Offense
The number of property crimes reported in 2014 was
2,016. Property crimes increased 4 percent from
2013. Burglary accounted for 20 percent of all
property offenses, larceny-theft accounted for 77
percent, and motor vehicle theft accounted for 3
percent.
There was a 1 percent decrease in the number of
reported burglaries in 2014. All other property crime
types showed a slight increase when compared to
those in 2013.
Burglary
20%
Larceny-Theft
77%
Motor Vehicle Theft
3%
Property Crime Offenses 2004-2014
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Clearances
For Uniform Crime Reporting Purposes, an offense is cleared only when a law enforcement agency has
identified the offender, enough evidence exists to press charges, and the subject is actually taken into
custody. The arrest of one person can clear several crimes or several persons may be arrested in the
process of clearing one offense. Law enforcement agencies may also clear a crime by exceptional means
when some element beyond law enforcement control precludes the placing of formal charges against
the offender.
Lufkin Police Officers cleared 31 percent of all index offenses reported to them in 2014, by arrest or
exceptional means. Of the violent crimes reported, 59 percent were cleared, while 29 percent of all
property crimes were cleared.
9
Index Crime Clearance Rates
50%
Murder
Rape
49%
Robbery
64%
Agg. Assault
16%
Burglary
32%
Larceny-Theft
49%
MVT
31%
All Index
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
The relatively high clearance rate for violent crimes compared to the non-violent property crimes is, in
part, attributed to the elements of confrontation between the victim and the perpetrator, which
contributes to identification of the offender. (Murder clearance was actually 100% as of 01/2015)
Stolen Property Value
The total value of reported property stolen during 2014 in Lufkin was $2,137,976. In 2014, Lufkin Police
Officers recovered $702,755 in stolen property which is 32 percent of the property reported stolen.
Property Value Lost to Crime 2013-2014
2013
1200000
2014
1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
MVT
Theft
Burglary
Robbery
Part II Crimes
Part II offenses encompass all other criminal offenses such as simple assault, fraud, forgery,
vandalism, drug offenses and alcohol offenses. These types of crimes represent the vast
majority of work of the Department. There were 614 assaults reported in Lufkin in 2014.
10
Lufkin Crime Clock, 2014
An emergency 9-1-1 call was received in the LPD Communication Center every 9 minutes
A police officer was dispatched to a call for service every 12 minutes
A police officer took a report on a crime or incident every hour
A vehicle crash was reported every 2 hours
A property crime was committed every 4 hours
A Theft was committed every 6 hours
An Assault was committed every 14 hours
A Burglary was committed every 22 hours
A violent crime was committed every 2 days
An Aggravated Assault was committed every 4 days
A vehicle was stolen every 5 days
A Robbery was committed every 8 days
A Murder was committed every 183 Days
Note: As the most aggregate representation of crime data, the Crime Clock should be viewed with care. The
Crime Clock conveys the relative frequency of incidents. This display does not imply any regularity in the
commission of crimes, but rather, the clock represents the annual ratio of crimes to fixed time intervals.
11
Lufkin Police Department 2014 Report
Overall Police Activity
Overall police activity here is measured by the total Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) calls generated
each year. This will include most officer-initiated activities. There were 43,270 CAD calls in 2014. This
was a 19 percent increase in overall police activity from 2013.
Overall Police Activity by Year
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
43,270
30,126 30,678 29,605
2004
2005
33,256 31,881 33,313
31,515 31,969
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
36,610 36,245
2012
2013
2014
Calls for Service
Calls for service include those calls where a person telephoned police to request an officer’s response.
Officer-initiated calls are not included. In 2014, there was a 9 percent increase in the number of calls for
police service. There were 32,212 calls for police service in 2014
Calls for Service by Month
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr May
Jun
2013
12
Jul
2014
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Response Times
In 2014, the average response time for a Lufkin Police officer was 7 minutes. In 80 percent of Priority 1
and 2 calls, an Officer was on scene in less than ten minutes from the time of the citizen’s report.
0.009
Call Rcvd.To Arrive
10:54
0.008
Call Rcvd.To Arrive
11:33
Call Rcvd.To Arrive
10:33
0.007
Call Rcvd.To Arrive
7:57
0.006
0.005
Call Rcvd.To Arrive
6:41
0.004
0.003
0.002
0.001
0
Priority-1
Priority-2
Priority-3
Priority-4
All Call Types
Offense and Incident Reports
There were 6,085 Offense and Incident reports submitted by LPD Officers in 2014. This is an 11 percent
decrease from number of written reports submitted in 2013.
Police Reports by Month
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
2013
13
Jul
2014
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Crash Reports
Traffic Crashes Dispatched
In 2014, Lufkin Police responded to
4,304 vehicle collisions. This was an
average of 359 traffic crashes being
dispatched every month. This was a
13 percent increase from the number
of traffic crashes reported in 2013.
Over 2000 of these were nonreportable consisting mostly of
private property and parking lot
collisions. All accidents resulting in
apparent damage over $1,000 or
reported injuries are investigated.
500
400
300
200
100
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013
Of the 4,304 crashes, Lufkin officers submitted 1,283
crash reports to the Texas Department of
Transportation. Of those accidents occurring on
public roadways, 940 reported no injuries but had
apparent damage to a vehicle over $1,000, 199
reported possible injuries, 112 had minor injuries, and
25 people suffered major injuries. The number of
fatality accidents increased again in 2014. In 2014,
seven people lost their lives in Lufkin in traffic
crashes. Three more than in 2013.
Possible
Injury
15%
2014
Minor Major
Killed
Injury Injury
1%
2%
9%
NonInjury
73%
Fail to Control Speed was again found to be the most
frequent factor contributing to vehicle crashes in
Lufkin.
There were 106 hit and run accidents reported in
2014.
Top 20 Streets for Crashes in 2014
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
S. Medford Dr.
S. First St.
W. Frank Ave.
S. John Redditt Dr.
N. Timberland Dr.
E. Denman Ave.
S. Timberland Dr.
N. Medford Dr.
Daniel McCall Dr.
S. Chestnut St.
217
206
171
153
149
134
110
67
67
50
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)
14
N. John Redditt Dr.
Atkinson Dr.
E. Lufkin Ave.
Tulane Dr.
Ellen Trout Dr.
Southwood Dr.
College Dr.
N. Raguet St.
Kurth Dr.
Whitehouse Dr.
49
45
40
40
32
32
31
29
19
19
Vehicle Stops
Lufkin Police Officers made 6,241 vehicle stops in 2014. This was a 4 percent decrease from 2013.
Vehicle Stops by Month
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr May
Jun
2013
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2014
Not all vehicle stops are traffic enforcement related.
There are many instances when vehicles are stopped
because of their possible connection to a call being
investigated, or due to suspicious activity involving
the vehicle. 4,690 of the vehicles stopped in 2014
were for traffic enforcement purposes. All vehicle
stops by LPD Officers are video and audio recorded.
Warning
26%
Citation
74%
The most common complaint received from
residents involves traffic issues such as speeding,
reckless driving, and accidents. In 2014, Lufkin
Police Officers issued 6,810 traffic citations, along
with 2,374 warnings citations. This was a 16 percent
decrease in traffic enforcement actions from 2013.
Traffic Violation Statistics
Weekday Stats.
Top Seven Violations Cited
Top Seven Streets
Sunday
(1169)
1) SPEEDING (including school and w ork zones)
(1,613)
1) Timberland Dr (689)
Monday
(1451)
2) NO DRIVERS LICENSE
(840)
2) First St (489)
Tuesday
(1296)
3) NO LIABILITY INSURANCE
(709)
3) Medford Dr (358)
Wednesday (1263)
4) MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION VIOLATION
(530)
4) Frank Av (226)
Thursday
(1443)
5) FAIL TO CONTROL SPEED
(478)
5) Denman Av (106)
Friday
(1448)
6) DISPLAY EXPIRED LICENSE PLATES
(438)
6) John Redditt Dr (85)
Saturday
(1205)
7) DROVE WHILE LICENSE INVALID
(396)
7) Paul Av (75)
15
2014 Racial Profiling Statistics
2014 Traffic Stops by Race
Number of motor vehicle stops:
1.
2.
3.
4.
4,489 citation only stops
198 arrest only stops
3 both citation and arrest stops
4,690 total stops
Hispanic
22%
Caucasian
48%
Race or Ethnicity:
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
African
30%
1,431 African
0 Asian
2,244 Caucasian
1,015 Hispanic
0 Middle Eastern
0 Native American
4,690 Total
Race or Ethnicity known prior to stop?
12. 651 Yes
13. 4,039 No
14. 4,690 Total
Search conducted?
15. 802 Yes
16. 3,888 No
17. 4,690 Total
Was search consented?
18. 285 Yes
19. 517 No
20. 802 Total
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
4,039
651
Race Known Prior to
stop
3,888
802
285
Search Conducted
Yes
16
No
517
Search Consented
Arrests
Arrests by Month
In 2014, Lufkin Police Officers made
2,020 adult arrests, for an average of
168 arrests a month. This was a
reduction of more than 24 percent
from the number of arrests made in
2013.
300
250
200
150
100
There were 74 juveniles arrested in
2014. Juvenile arrests were up 7
percent from 2013.
50
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2013
Felony
17%
2014
DWI
2%
Other
Misdemeanors
81%
In 2014, Lufkin Police officers filed 697 Felony
Charges, filed 99 charges for Driving While
Intoxicated, and filed 3,361 charges for other
misdemeanor offenses.
Lufkin police officers made 264 drug related arrests in
2014. A significant increase from 2013.
2014 Arrest Demographics
250
200
150
100
50
0
Under 18
18-25
Black
26-30
White
31-40
Hispanic
17
41-50
Asian
Oth./Unk.
51-60
Over 60
Use of Force
The Lufkin Police Department made 2,094 physical arrests in 2014. Unfortunately, not everyone that is
arrested cooperates. Officers are required to submit a Response to Resistance Report anytime a firearm
is fired or displayed, chemical
agents are dispersed, a Taser is
displayed or actuated, or
restraint tactics go beyond
20
mere hands on and escorting
techniques. 98 reports of Use
15
of force by officers were
submitted in 2014. That was a
10
5 percent decrease from 2013.
Use of Force Reports by Month
5
Of the 98 suspects whom
officers had to use force on in
0
2014, 80% where trying to
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
escape or flee, and 57% posed
2013
2014
an imminent threat to citizens,
the officer or themselves. 25%
had a weapon on their person or within their
Black
White Hispanic Totals
reach, and 7 of them had a weapon in their
Male
49
23
12
84
hand. 13% were under the influence of Alcohol,
19% percent where under the influence of
Female
8
5
1
14
drugs, and 8 were suffering from mental illness.
Totals
57
28
13
23
In 2014, 24 suspects received minor injuries
during reported use of force incidents. 10 officers also received minor injuries during use of force
incidents. Of the 34 total reported injuries, 27 required at least some level of medical attention. No
excessive use of force complaints were filed in 2014.
When comparing use of force encounters to the number of physical arrests that LPD Officers made in
2014, it shows that force was used in less than 5 percent of all physical arrests. In other words, LPD
Officers did not use any force in over 95 percent of the 2,094 physical arrests they made.
Physical Arrests (Force Used vs. Not Used)
2,500
2,000
1,500
2,225
1,000
500
0
1,662
Force not Used
1,996
1,216
83
2011
107
104
2012
1013
18
98
2014
Force Used
Vehicle Pursuits
LPD Vehicle Pursuits
Because of their inherent danger to
our officers and the public, vehicle
pursuits are also thoroughly
documented and closely evaluated by
the Department’s Administration. In
2014, Lufkin Officers engaged in 15
vehicle pursuits which was up from
the 12 in 2013.
25
22
20
19
17
15
10
15
12
12
10
8
5
In 12 of the 15 pursuits in 2014, the
evading driver was apprehended.
Two pursuits ended with suspect
crashes, but no injuries were
sustained.
0
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Fleet Accidents
The Lufkin Police Department had 9
reportable fleet accidents in 2014. This
was up from 6 reported in 2013. In 5 of the
9 2014 fleet accidents the officer was not
at fault.
There were no reports of significant
injuries due to fleet crashes in 2014.
However 3 fleet vehicles were totaled due
crash damage.
Fleet Accidents
10
8
4
At Fault
6
5
4
2
0
3
Not at Fault
5
1
1
2011
2
2012
3
2013
19
2014
Budget
Lufkin Police Department Budget
8,600,000
8,419,520
8,508,690
8,400,000
8,200,000
8,092,713
7,978,874
8,000,000
7,800,000
7,763,063
7,600,000
7,400,000
7,200,000
FY 2010
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
FY 2014
Training remains to be one of the biggest under-budgeted issues. In 2014, the department’s training
budget was approaching exhaustion as soon as February. For the remainder of the rear, Patrol Division’s
training requests were closely scrutinized, and only mandatory and local schools were likely to be
approved. As seen in the remainder of this report, adequately funded training is of significant
importance as many components of our department rely on very specialized training that is expensive
and rarely offered locally. Many other agencies throughout the Deep East Texas area also rely on our
department for our expertise in many different specialty fields, such as computer forensics, crash
reconstruction, crime scene processing, AFIS, polygraph, SRT, and Honor Guard.
Equipment
Maintenance
1%
Supplies
5%
2014 LPD Budget
Miscellaneous
6%
Capital
Outlay
1%
Benefits
25%
Salaries
62%
20
Staffing
Command
Staff, 2
The Lufkin Police Department currently
has authorized positions for 98
personnel consisting of 76 peace officer
positions and 22 civilian positions.
Civilian
Employees,
22
The Department has not been at full
staff since 2008. LPD experienced
massive turnovers in 2012, 2013, and
2014. Low applicant pools and the long
training period new recruits have to go
through before they can work by
themselves has left the department
struggling to maintain staffing again in
2014.
Officers Hired in 2014
David McMullen
Carter Willmon
Quintin McClure
Jeremy Nettles
Zachary Klein
Quinton Hawkins
Zane Anthony
Lieutenants,
7
Sergeants, 8
Detectives,
16
Uniform
Officers, 43
Officers Quitting in 2014
Officer Brad Lawrence
Officer Anthony LaCount
Officer Eric Bauer
Recruit Michael Swearingen
Officers Retiring in 2014
Chief Scott Marcotte
Corporal Brad Baker
Lieutenant Charlie Graham
Officer Trent Burfine
In October 2013, a staffing analysis of the Lufkin Police Department was conducted by the Texas Police
Chiefs Association. As a result of those findings, minimum staffing for police officers at LPD was raised
from 74 to 76 officers. In 2014, despite the increase in the number of allotted officers, the average
number of certified and trained officers filling manpower positions fell to a 20-year low of 66 officers.
Police Officer Staffing (Average per Year)
76
0
74
72
-3
-2
-1
-2
70
68
66
74
71
72
73
-7
-6
67
68
2012
2013
-10
72
64
66
62
60
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
21
2014
Organization
Major Divisions
The organizational structure of the Lufkin Police Department is designed to create an efficient means to
accomplish our mission and goals and to provide for the best possible service to the public. Chief of
Police Gerald Williamson is responsible for administering and managing the Lufkin Police Department.
The Police Department is broken down by function into five major divisions:
• Administration Division
• Patrol Division
• Investigations Division
• Support Services Division
• Animal Control Division
22
Administration Division
The Administration Division is commanded by Assistant Chief
David Thomas whose primary responsibility is to provide
general management direction and control for the
Administration Division, including management of the
Department budget and the Office of Professional Standards
(Internal Affairs). The Administrative Assistant for the
administration office is Ruby Cottle.
Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs)
Detective Renea Cutler is the Professional
Standards investigator for the Lufkin Police
Department. She is responsible for investigating all
complaints that are brought against officers and
employees of the department.
Complaints can be either external (from citizens) or
Internal (from supervisors or other employees).
Serious allegations of criminal misconduct are
referred to outside agencies, usually the Texas
Rangers or the F.B.I., however, the LPD Office of
Professional Standards may also conduct an
administrative investigation.
O.P.S. Investigations
2011-2014
Not Sustained
3%
Referred
31%
Unfounded
14%
Sustained
52%
The Office of Professional Standards only received
four complaints in 2014. Two were unfounded after
investigation, and two were referred to outside
agencies without investigation. There were no
excessive use of force complaints received in 2014.
Office of Professional Standards Findings
12
1
10
Referred
Pending
8
6
4
2
0
1
10
3
1
2
1
2011
6
2012
2013
23
Unfounded
2
2
2014
Sustained
Not Sustained
Recruitment and Background Investigations
In addition to her duties as Professional Standards Investigator, Detective Renea Cutler is also over
Department recruiting, testing, and background investigations. Because the number of background
investigations conducted each year has quadrupled since 2011, a background investigator position was
created in the fall of 2014 to assist in the hiring of new police department employees. Officer Trent
Burfine served in this new position until his retirement in December. Investigator John Davis will be
taking over in that position starting January 2015.
There were 4 civil service tests given again in 2014. Due in large part to bill board advertising, LPD had
3 times the applicants that were received in 2013. However, it was quickly realized that the number of
“qualified” applicants was nearly the same. Out of the 172 applicants that passed the entrance exam,
only 7 were selected to go to the police academy. 1 applicant was processed while attending the
academy, but did not start field training until February 2015.
2014 Police Applicants
Fail Interview, 25
Fail Background,
31
Withdrew, 6
Fail Polygraph, 3
Fail Psych, 0
Hired, 1
Fail Agility, 23
Academy, 7
Special Services Division (Disbanded)
Mid-year 2014, the entire Special Services Division of the Lufkin Police Department was disbanded due
to the manpower crises the department was facing along with an increased demand in calls for service
in 2014. All the officers from the Traffic Safety Section, and all narcotics investigators were transferred
back to Patrol Division to keep the patrol shifts at adequate staffing. Officers assigned to these specialty
units were allowed to bid for shift preferences, and for the first time in over 25 years shifts changed
personnel in middle of the year.
Traffic Safety responsibilities and the Crash Reconstruction Team were re-aligned under Support
Services Division. The Special Response Team and Honor Guard reported directly to Asst. Chief Thomas,
but will fall under Support Services Division for this report.
24
Patrol Division
Patrol Division is one of the most visible functions of the Police Department because patrol officers are
who the community sees responding to calls for service. Our patrol operations are divided into two area
patrol sectors (North and South). The patrol sectors are divided into police beats, which are even
further broken down into sub-beats for reporting, crime mapping, and crime analysis purposes.
The Patrol Division represents more than half of our sworn employees and is made up of six patrol
shifts: 2 day shifts, 2 night shifts, and 2 power shifts.
Note: The following pages reflect the patrol shift assignments as they were during the 2nd half of 2014.
25
“A” Shift
The “A” Shift watch is (Every other Saturday) Sunday through Tuesday from 6:00 am till 6:00 p.m. “A”
Shift was commanded by Lieutenant Mike Shurley. This unit was supervised by Sergeant Travis
Strickland and consisted of 8 uniformed officers. 2014 Roll call for “A” shift was as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Corporal Ray Berry
Officer John Davis
Officer Devin Trotti
Officer Hector Rosales
5.
6.
7.
8.
Officer Tyson Hoover
Officer Jason Vance
Officer Rusty Waters
Officer Carter Willmon
“B” Shift
The “B” Shift watch is Wednesday through Friday (Every other Saturday) from 6:00 am till 6:00 pm. “B”
Shift was commanded by Lieutenant David Young. The unit was supervised by Sergeant Rodney
Squyres and consisted of 8 uniformed officers. 2014 Roll call for “B” shift was as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Corporal Randy Brooks
Officer Jim Porter
Officer Randy Stallard
Officer Toby Stanaland
Officer Eddie Ibarra
Officer Chris Carroll
Officer Alberto Ibarra
Officer David McMullen
“C” Shift
The “C” Shift watch is (Every other Saturday) Sunday through
Tuesday from 6:00 pm till 6:00 am. “C” Shift was commanded by
Lieutenant Ronny LaRue. This unit was supervised by
Sergeant Dale Jowell and consisted of 8 uniformed officers.
2014 Roll call for “C” shift was as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Corporal Brad Davis
Officer Jennifer Payne
Officer Bob Scott
Officer Chris Nash
5.
6.
7.
8.
Officer Sean Alexander
Officer Trey Lenderman
Officer Blake Witherspoon
Officer Tory Trotti
26
“D” Shift
The “D” Shift watch is Wednesday through Friday (Every other Saturday) from 6:00 pm till 6:00 am. “D”
Shift was commanded by Lieutenant David Campbell. The unit was supervised by Sergeant
Anthony Mitchon and consisted of 9 uniformed officers. 2014 Roll call for “D” shift was as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Corporal Trent Sobolewski
Officer Dale Dodd
Officer Jose Santana
Officer Seth Thompson
Officer Andrew Lewis
Officer Rene Gutierrez
Officer Caleb Forest
Officer James Leach
Officer Kyle Lillico
Power Shifts
“E” and “F” Shifts are the power shifts designed to cover the afternoon main shift change and provide
the extremely needed additional manpower during the peak call load periods. The “E” Shift watch is
(Every other Saturday) Sunday through Tuesday from 2:00 pm till 2:00 am, and is under the command
Lieutenant Mike Shurley. The “F” Shift watch is Wednesday through Friday (Every other Saturday) from
2:00 pm till 2:00 am and is under the command of Lieutenant David Young. These power shifts fall
under the supervision of the duty sergeant currently on duty at the time. 2014 Roll call for “E” and “F”
shifts was as follows:
“E” Shift
“F” Shift
1. Officer Brandon White
2. Officer Cody Jackson
3. Officer Jeremy Charvoz
1. Officer Kevin Jackson
2. Officer Lee Jowell
3. Officer Herbert Fuentes
27
Investigations Division
The Investigations Division (C.I.D.) is commanded by Lieutenant
Mike Shapaka whose primary responsibility is to provide general
management direction and control for the Investigations Section,
Property and Evidence Section, and Forensic Services. The
Administrative Assistant for the CID offices is Carol Jessep.
Investigations Section
The Investigations Section is supervised by Sergeant Stephen Abbott and consists of 11 detectives.
Detectives work ten hours shifts from 6a.m. to 5p.m., with weekends and off-set Fridays and Mondays
off. Detectives and supervisors also rotate being on call (7 day periods). Roll call for the 2014
Investigations Section was as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Corporal Nick Malone
Detective Ron Stubblefield
Detective Starlan Glawson
Detective Jamie Jinkins
Detective John Petty
Detective Clay VanEman
Detective Paul Jackson
Detective Lance Standridge
Detective Ray Hightower
Detective Jarrod Hennigan
(Unfilled Position)
In 2014, 2,594 cases were assigned to Lufkin Detectives for follow-up investigation at an average of 216
cases a month. Case assignments were down 7 percent from 2013. Detectives cleared 926 cases, closed
1,651 cases, and had 149 cases pending. 2014 clearances were also down 9 percent from 2013.
2014 C.I.D. Case Dispositions
Pending
4%
Cleared by arrest
11%
Inactive/Closed
46%
Referred to other
agency
4%
Exceptionaly Cleared
14%
Unfounded
9%
Prosecution Refused
12%
28
Crime Scene Unit
The Lufkin Police Department Crime Scene Unit in 2014
was composed of 3 civilian Crime Scene Technicians,
Debra Walsh, Christi Pate, and Christi Esteves. These
technicians have received training in crime scene search
and collection, forensic photography, latent photography,
crime scene reconstruction, blood stain analysis, and
latent and palm print development and comparison. The
Crime Scene Technicians respond to crimes scenes not
only during working hours, but are on a rotating call out
schedule for after hours and weekends. Their duties include crime scene search, observation and
documentation of crime scene; photography and sketching of the scene; the identification, processing
and collection of physical evidence such as finger prints, footwear impressions, hair, fibers, biological
fluids, and materials for DNA analysis. Other duties include fingerprinting items turned into the Property
Room for processing, fingerprint comparison, preparing evidence to be sent to the lab, and courtroom
testimony. Crime Scene Technicians were called upon to process 90 crime scenes in 2014.
Special Victims Investigator
The Lufkin Police Department has a specially trained detective devoted to the investigations of special
victims such as those of sexual assaults, children, and the elderly. Detective Lance Standridge is the
Special Victims Investigator for the Lufkin Police Department. The Special Victims Investigator works as
the department’s liaison with outside victim support agencies such as the Child Advocacy Center
(Harold’s House), the Women’s Shelter, Child and Adult Protective Services, and the Missing Persons
Clearing House. Detective Standridge was assigned 214 cases in 2014.
Computer Forensics
Detective Jamie Jinkins and Detective Clay VanEman are the Departments Computer Forensics
Examiners. These detectives are specially trained in preservation and storage of digital evidence, and
the seizure and storage of digital media and devices, such as; computers, mobile telephones, personal
communications devices, digital cameras, digital recorders, and other electronic devices that are capable
of storing digital information.
Digital media and devices require specialized training and
handling to preserve evidentiary value. Because the potential
to destroy information through careless or improper handling is
so great, detectives and investigators from all around the East
Texas area request the assistance of our department’s
Computer Forensic Examiners trained in digital evidence
collection. In 2014, 142 computers, tablets and cell phones
including over 12 terabytes of data were forensically examined.
29
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
AFIS is one of the latest innovations in crime analysis and the Lufkin Police
Department is one of the few agencies in East Texas that has it. It is a
computerized system that stores the identifying characteristics of more
than 4.8 million individuals currently on file in the DPS Crime Records
Service. The AFIS section also performs systematic computer searches of
unknown fingerprints by optically scanning a print and comparing it with
those on file. Prior to AFIS, fingerprint searches had to be done manually.
Carol Jessup and Debra Walsh are the departments AFIS operators.
In 2014, 68 latent prints were ran through AFIS resulting in 14 suspects being identified in 14 different
criminal cases. In 2014, AFIS assisted in clearing 2 thefts, 2 forgeries, 9 burglaries, and 1 robbery.
Property and Evidence Section
The Property and Evidence Section provides for the proper collection, storage and security of evidence
and all property necessitating custody of the Department and report to the Investigations Division
supervisor. This Section provides for
the protection of the chain of
evidence and are the only persons
authorized to remove and/or
destroy property. Property Room
6,174
7,000
5,827
5,696
Technicians Christi Pate and
6,000
Christi Esteves were assigned to
5,000
the property room in 2014.
Property and Evidence Room
In 2014, over 6,000 items of
evidence and or other property was
submitted by officers to the Lufkin
Police Department Property Room.
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Items Submitted
Items Disposed
758
2012
1,017
2013
Polygraph Examiner
The Lufkin Police Department is one of the few agencies in East Texas
that has a polygraph examiner. Lieutenant Jerry Smith is a
licensed and board certified polygraph examiner. Lieutenant Smith
not only conducts polygraphs on criminal cases for our agency and
many others, but he also conducts pre-employment polygraphs on all
police and fire department applicants.
In 2014, Lieutenant Smith conducted 53 polygraph examinations
consisting of 8 criminal case polygraphs, and 45 pre-employment
polygraphs (20 Police, 25 Fire).
30
611
2014
Support Services Division
The Support Services Division is commanded by Lieutenant Scott Cagnon whose primary
responsibility is to serve as the agency's Training Manager and provide general management direction
and control for the Communications Section, Geo-base Manager, Alarm Billing, Records Section, Public
Information Officer, and Fleet. Lieutenant Cagnon is also responsible for Crime Analysis, Quarterly
COMPSTAT, and Annual Reporting.
Training
The Lufkin Police Department administers a training program that will provide for the professional
growth and continued development of its personnel. By doing so, the Department will ensure its
personnel possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide a professional level of service that
meets the needs of the community.
The Department seeks to provide ongoing training
and encourages all personnel to participate in
advanced training and formal education on a
continual basis. Training is provided within the
confines of funding, requirements of a given
assignment, staffing levels and legal mandates.
The objectives of the Training Program are to
enhance the level of law enforcement service to the
public, increase the technical expertise and overall
effectiveness of our personnel, provide for continued
professional development of Department personnel,
and to assist in compliance with TCOLE rules and
regulations concerning law enforcement training.
2014 Training Expenses
$18,000.00
$16,994.48
$16,000.00
$14,000.00
$12,000.00
$10,000.00
$8,124.00
$9,535.35
$8,000.00
In 2014, Lufkin Police Officers,
Communications Operators, and
civilian employees attended over
7,000 hours of department approved
training. 93 percent of the training
was either in-department training, or
training offered locally that did not
require travel or overnight lodging.
Despite that only 7 percent of training
approved was for training not offered
locally, the training expenditures for
2014 well exceeded $34,000.
$6,000.00
$4,000.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
TUITION
PER DIEM
LODGING
31
Communications Section
The Lufkin Police Department Communications Center
provides 24-hour service to the public for information or
assistance that may be needed for Police, EMS, Fire, and Public
Works (after hours). The Communications Center also takes
all incoming 9-1-1 calls for not only the City of Lufkin, but also
transfer calls from Angelina County residents and the City of
Diboll needing EMS Services. The Communications Center is supervised by Ronny Harrison. We have
12 communication operators assigned to the section, with three operators assigned to each 12 hour
patrol shift.
“A” Shift
“B” Shift
“C” Shift
“D” Shift
Sharon Johnson
Kim Breed
Brian Tomez
Jacqueline Hale
Ronda Arnold
Sabrina Guerrero
Camille Perry
Ashley Jowell
Christina Hoover
Dee Dee Dalbalcon
Lacy Calhoun
Hannah Herrington
In 2014, the Lufkin Police Department Communications Center handled:
 351,368 radio transmissions (average of over 962 a day; or more than 40 an hour)
 175,753 non-emergency calls (average of over 481 a day; or more than 20 an hour)
 59,363 911 emergency calls (average of over 162 a day; or more than 6 an hour)
 56,536 dispatches (average of over 154 a day; or more than 6 an hour):
Lufkin Police Department
Communications Annual Activity Report
80,000
911 Calls
Police
EMS
Fire
AMC
Pub Wrks
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
2011
2012
2013
32
2014
Records Section
In 2014, there were 8,956 police reports entered into our Report
Management Systems (RMS). The Lufkin Police Department Records
Section is the custodian of all Police Department records. The
records section consists of a Records Manager, Don Douglas, a
records clerk and TCIC/CJIS Agency Coordinator, Jacqueline Hale,
and a Geo-base and Alarm Billing Manager, Stephanie Cagnon.
The section is supervised by Keith Lewing. Among the duties they
perform on a daily basis are:
•
•
•
•
•
Processing and maintaining all crime, information, accident, and arrest reports generated by the
Police Department.
Ensuring compliance with all mandated statistical reporting
to state and federal agencies.
Responding to all subpoenas, public information act
Reports Submitted in 2014
requests as well as licensing and background checks
Offense Report
3,623
submitted by both the public and other law enforcement
Crash Reports
2,058
entities.
Arrest Reports
2,467
Running background and warrant inquiries for officers,
Incident
Reports
808
outside agencies, and the public.
Registering Sex Offenders and the continued verification of
registration information of sex offenders residing in Lufkin
Year
2012
2013
2014
Accident Reports
Offense Reports
Fingerprint Fees
Record Checks
Other Misc. (Fax fees, etc.)
$13,584
$1,128
$1,760
$1,048
$1,090
$13,856
$1,078
$1,060
$792
$1,138
$13,958
$1,312
$840
$512
$1,413
Total
$18,610
$17,924
$18,035
False Alarm Billing
In Lufkin, false alarm calls account for more than 98% of the yearly alarm calls
that officers are dispatched to. Over the last year, the Department received
approximately 3,807 alarm calls, an average of approximately 10 per day. Of
those alarm calls, approximately 3,708 were determined to be false.
Officers must clear all alarm calls with the proper alarm status codes. Officers
responding to false alarms hinder our response time to priority calls for service.
The Department needed to become proactive in resolving the false alarm issue
and decided to write an alarm ordinance to reduce the high number of false alarm calls. In 2014, there
were 562 charges for excessive false alarms for a total of $16,860.00 in fines.
33
Fleet Maintenance
The Fleet Maintenance Section is
currently only staffed by one
employee, Debra Walsh. She has the
key responsibility of maintaining and
ensuring the fleet of vehicles and
trailers assigned to the Police
Department remain in operating
condition and are available for service
seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
We currently have 52 vehicles and 3 trailers in the department’s inventory. The Police Department’s
fleet is composed of the following:
22 Marked Patrol Vehicles 26 Unmarked Vehicles
4 Specialty Vehicles
3 Trailers
2014 Chevy Tahoe’s (5)
2012 Chevy Tahoe’s (3)
2011 Chevy Tahoe’s (12)
2010 Chevy Tahoe (1)
2008 Crown Victoria (1)
2001 Ford (Crime
Scene)
1997 Ford (Transport
Van)
2010 Polaris (ATV)
2001 Ford (Crime
Scene Van)
2001 Speed Com Trailer
2006 Cargo Trailer (SRT)
2007 5x10 Trailer
(Seized)
2015 Chevy Impala (1)
2014 Chevy Impala (1)
2013 Ford F-150 (2)
2012 Chevy Silverado (1)
2012 Chevy Impalas (11)
2010 Ford Fusions (3)
2008 Ford Fusions (2)
2007 Ford F-150 (1)
2006 Ford F-150 (1)
2008 Dodge (Seized)
2001 Honda (Seized)
2010 Crown Victoria (1)
Fleet Manager is responsible for preparing and
equipping new marked vehicles and upgrading older
marked vehicles. In addition she is also responsible for
maintenance of all the officer’s portable radios, and the
mobile police radios, mobile computer systems, and the
in-car video camera systems, light bars, sirens, prisoner
seats, and all the other equipment installed in the
vehicles.
In 2014, the Lufkin Police
Department’s fleet logged
518,159 miles (15,847 less
than in 2013). Fleet vehicles
averaged about 3,000 miles
a month in 2014.
34
Public Information Officer (PIO)
In 2014, Sergeant David Casper took over as the
Department's new Public Information Officer (PIO). The PIO is
trained in records retention and release, and is responsible for
the release of information to the public and the media.
As technology changes, the public expects the department to
communicate in a timely and transparent manner. In 2014,
the department responded to 91 Public Information Act
Requests (up from 85 received in 2014). Also, the police
department has the ability to instantly send out notifications when emergencies or other situations arise
that the public should be aware of. And, arrest and incident reports are still published daily by the
Lufkin Police Department. These news releases are intended as a snapshot of our department’s police
activity for the preceding 24 hours.
Incorporated with these duties, Sergeant Casper also took over responsibilities as the Departments
Grants Manager. Sergeant Casper also one of the department’s In-Service Trainers.
Crime Stoppers Coordinator and Department Policy Manager
LPD has been an integral part of the Crime Stoppers of Lufkin program since
its inception in 1982. In 2014, Detective J.B. Smith moved into a position
where much of his time could be devoted to his duties as Crime Stoppers of
Lufkin’s Law Enforcement Coordinator and Executive Director, and allowing
the program to expand throughout Angelina and into other contiguous
counties. In 2014, Crime Stoppers of Lufkin received 455 tips resulting in
31 arrests and clearing 36 cases. Additionally these tips led to the apprehension of 41 fugitives.
Crime Stoppers paid out $14,820 in rewards in 2014.
Detective Smith is also the Lufkin Police Department’s Policy Manager. These responsibilities
include creating, updating, and maintaining departmental policies and conducting training
concerning such policies. Detective Smith is also one of the department’s In-Service Trainers.
Crime Analysis and COMPSTAT
Crime analysis provides useful information to aid operational personnel in meeting their tactical crime
control and prevention objectives by identifying and analyzing methods of operation of individual
criminals and providing crime pattern recognition. Crime analysis can be useful to the Department's
long-range planning efforts by providing estimates of future crime trends and assisting in the
identification of enforcement priorities.
COMPSTAT (Comparing Statistics) is the monitoring of the police department’s performance and its
impact on Lufkin’s crime. Command staff has COMPSTAT meetings with the Division Lieutenants every
quarter as a management tool for operational planning to reduce crime.
35
Field Training Program
The Field Training Officer Program is intended to
provide a standardized program to facilitate the
officer's transition from the police academy to the
actual performance of general law enforcement duties
of the Lufkin Police Department. All new police officers
are assigned to a structured 16 week Field Training
Officer Program that is designed to prepare the new
officer to perform in a patrol assignment, and to ensure
the officer possesses skills needed to operate in a safe,
productive and professional manner. Six recruit officers
completed field training in 2014.
The Field Training Officer (FTO) is an experienced officer trained in the art of supervising, training and
evaluating entry level and lateral police officers in the application of their previously acquired
knowledge and skills. The Field Training Officers for 2014 were as follows:
“A” Shift
“C” Shift
“D” Shift
“E&F” Shift
John Davis
Rusty Waters
Jennifer Payne
Chris Nash
Sean Alexander
Trey Lenderman
Dale Dodd
Kevin Jackson
Cody Jackson
Lee Jowell
Sex Offender Accountability Program (SOAP)
The Sex Offender Accountability Program (SOAP) is a cooperative effort between the Department's
Patrol Division and Records Section. The SOAP program administrator is Lieutenant David Young.
New Sex Offender Registration packets provided by the Records Section for sex offenders registering
with the Department are forwarded to the Patrol Division Lieutenants who assign them to Patrol
officers.
On a monthly basis, Patrol officers
confirm the registration information
of each sex offender assigned to them
and document the contact through
the SOAP log found on the
Department's intranet. Patrol officers
identifying sex offender registration
100
violations obtain a warrant for the
80
arrest of the violator.
Registered Sex Offenders In
Lufkin
60
40
96
100
In 2014, there were 100 registered
sex offenders residing in Lufkin. This
was 4 more than were registered in
2013.
72
20
0
2012
2013
2014
36
Traffic Safety and Crash Reconstruction
The Lufkin Police Department Traffic Safety Coordinator is
Sergeant David Walker. Sgt. Walker handles incoming
citizen traffic safety concerns and coordinates police
department responses to traffic related issues in the city. In
addition, Sgt. Walker handles all parade and oversized escort
permits, and oversees the departments Rotation Wrecker
Program.
Sgt. Walker is also the coordinator for the Lufkin Police Department’s Crash
Reconstruction Team. Officers Toby Stanaland, and Eddie and Alberto
Ibarra have received advance training in crash investigation and
reconstruction and can perform reconstructions for fatality crashes as well
as other crashes that involve serious injuries or a high amount of property
damage. They are trained in use of specialized equipment to assist with
crash and crime scene reconstruction such as a Nikon Total Station (survey
instrument), crash/crime reconstruction software for providing scaled
diagrams, crash analysis and animations and a CDR kit (Crash Data
Retrieval) that allows officers to download and analyze pre and post-crash
electronic data collected from vehicles involved in crashes.
In 2014, the Crash Reconstruction Team investigated and reconstructed
approximately 5 crashes, all of which were fatalities. In 2014, The LPD
Crash Reconstruction Team also assisted C.I.D. in two crime scene reconstructions and assisted both
Nacogdoches Police Department and Texas Highway patrol in 4 other crash investigations by
downloading and analyzing data from vehicle data recorders.
The school crossing guards fall under the responsibility of the Traffic Safety and are under the
supervision of Sgt. Walker. The department currently has 11 school crossing guards covering 6 school
zone crossings.
Controlled School Zone Crossings
Chestnut at York
Chestnut at Denman Ave
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Denman Ave at Cunningham
Denman at Martha
Joseph Elliot
Melody Adams
Brenda Duren
Janice Brown
Peggy Richard
Gail McClelland
Atkinson Drive at Trenton
Kurth Drive at Sayers
7. Brenda Martin
8. Lauryn McCelland
9. Rebekah Landers
10. Kaitlyn McCelland
11. Rachel Adams
Each School Crossing Guard works 3 hours a day (1.5 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours in the
afternoon). Many of our school children are able to get to school safely each day due to a cooperative
effort with the Lufkin Police Department and the Lufkin ISD. This program is an important part of the
police department’s overall strategy of maintaining high visibility in the community.
37
Special Response Team (SRT)
Special Response Team is a unit of highly trained and specifically equipped
officers that work as a coordinated team to resolve critical incidents that are so
hazardous, complex or unusual that they may exceed the capabilities of first
responders or investigative units including, but not limited to, hostage taking,
barricaded suspects, snipers, terrorist acts and other high-risk incidents. This
unit is also used to serve high-risk warrants, both search and arrest, where
public and officer safety issues warrant the use of such a unit.
The SRT Commander is Sergeant Travis Strickland. This 16 man Unit consists of three operational
components: a Crisis Negotiation Team, the Entry Team, and the Sniper Team.
Entry Team
Cpl. Sobolewski (Team Leader)
Sgt. Nick Malone
Cpl. Brad Davis
Cody Jackson
Lee Jowell
Devin Trotti
Jason Vance
Rusty Waters
Brandon White
Sniper Team
Sgt. Dale Jowell (Team Leader)
Cpl. Randy Brooks
Cpl. Dale Dodd
Crisis Negotiation Team
Lt. Jerry Smith
Jennifer Payne
John Davis
Team Paramedic
LFD Cpt. Ozzie Jarman
The Special Response Team on average received over 160 hours of training in 2014 and co-hosted a
basic SWAT School. Below is a list of some of the 2014 SRT activations:
-
Assisted Diboll PD with Diboll Prison roof collapse
Assisted Polk Co. So. with huge marijuana
eradication
Arrest of Barricaded kidnapping suspect
Assist DEA and DPS on fugitive takedown and
arrest
Assist US Marshal’s with felony warrant sweep
Conducted wooded area search for suicidal
subject
38
Honor Guard
The Lufkin Police Department Honor Guard
addresses the funeral arrangements for
deceased officers, employees, or city officials in
the most respectful and sympathetic manner
consistent with the wishes and needs of the
family. The police ceremonial farewell is an
expression of our respect for one who has made
the ultimate sacrifice and is a public announcement of our grief. The ceremony is a public display of our
respect for the deceased employee. The honor guard trains for adherence to protocol, for precision in
timing and execution, and for the sense of order that appropriately marks the "Police Funeral."
The Honor Guard Coordinator is Sergeant.
David Casper and the Team Leader is Cpl.
Randy Brooks. The Honor Guard Funeral Detail
has 11 members. The funeral detail can
provide; escort service for fallen officers and
their families from point of death to funeral
home, casket guard during the visitation and
funeral, a firing party for a “Volley of Three” (21
gun salute) at graveside, and flag folding detail
for presentation to next of kin. The Honor
Guard Funeral Detail has been asked by the
office of Congressman Louie Gohmert to be on
standby for military funerals in the East Texas
area when military honor guards are
unavailable.
Chaplain Program
The Lufkin Police Department Chaplain Program is established for the purpose of providing spiritual and
emotional support to all members of the Department, their families and members of the public. The
Chaplain Program is a non-denominational, ecumenical ministry provided
by volunteer clergy, without financial compensation.
In 2014, Pastor Randall Brown served as a resource for department
personnel when dealing with the public in such incidents as accidental
deaths, suicides, suicidal subjects, serious accidents, drug and alcohol
abuse and other such situations that may arise.
39
Animal Control Division
The Animal Control Division officers proactively enforce Lufkin
nuisance and animal ordinances. Shelter staff has a variety of tasks
including facility maintenance, animal care and animal adoption.
The Animal Control Divisions Director is Aaron Ramsey. Animal
Control had 8 employees under the supervision of Assistant
Director Debbie Jones. The Administrative Assistant for the
Animal Control Office is Amanda Cagnon.
Animal Control Officers
Paula Taylor (Lead ACO)
Donna Milligan
Esmeralda Flores
Sarah Mosley
Animal Care Attendants
Kelli Jones
Ray Jones
Abby Clay
Roy Ramos
Euthanization Percentage Rate
100
80
In 2014, the City of Lufkin Animal
Shelter received 6,396 animals in
2014. That was a 16 percent
decrease from 2013.
There was also a 2% euthanasia rate
decrease in 2014, which is part of a
steady decline since 2007 in the
number of animals euthanized.
60
40
20
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
In 2014, 379 animals were reclaimed
by their owners, 1,092 animals were
adopted by new owners, and 545
animals were released to rescues,
bringing the live release rate for 2014
up to 32 percent, which is a 3 percent
increase from 2013. In other words,
nearly one-third of the animals
brought in to the shelter did not have
to be euthanized. The shelter staff
continues to work relentlessly to save
as many animals as possible, even
volunteering some of their own time
to do it. 114 wild animals were also
relocated and released in 2014.
Department of Human Services
reported 2 Angelina County cases of
Rabies in 2014. Both were bats found
in the downtown area of the city.
2013
2014
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2013
40
2014
Future Challenges and Opportunities
The Lufkin Police Department continues to face problems common to
municipal law enforcement agencies. Competition for precious tax
dollars, recruiting and retention of qualified personnel, recruiting of
minority applicants, and meeting the needs and expectations of an
increasingly diverse citizenry are common themes. Nationwide,
police agencies are facing increased scrutiny regarding race relations,
use of force and public trust.
In 2015 the Lufkin Police Department plans to take the following
steps to meet our citizen’s needs and evolving expectations:
1. Chaplain and Police Alliance – Lt. Jerry Smith has been assigned to coordinate a citizen police
academy style program for local clergy and community leaders. This program is designed to give
community leaders an in-depth look at their police force. The goal is to establish open
communications and allow them to develop an informed opinion of the Lufkin PD officers and
enforcement methods. A traditional citizen’s police academy will be held in the second half of the
year.
2. Body Worn Cameras – The LPD is seeking grant money to purchase a complete body camera and
data management system. If approved, the system will give officers a video witness to
corroborate their observations and support their decisions. It will provide an impartial witness for
questioned incidents and deter misconduct.
3. Special Services Unit – This group is also known as a Street Crimes Unit and its primary focus
will be to address gang, drug and other activities that have a negative impact on quality of life in
our city. These officers will have the time, schedule flexibility and the technical resources
needed to respond to such crimes.
4. Recruiting and Retention – Both remain a serious challenge for LPD. Recent developments at the
national level in citizen distrust and demonstrations have made an already difficult situation even
more so. LPD has re-assigned an experienced detective to assist our Professional Standards
Investigator with recruiting and processing of applicants. LPD and City Administrators are
working together to provide useful, cost-effective methods to retain our existing personnel.
5. On-Line Services – The city’s Information and Technology department is working with the LPD
to provide a more user friendly and up to date web site that will include an on-line reporting
option. An on-line public information request system is also planned for 2015.
The Lufkin Police Department is committed to providing the most professional, dedicated police force
possible. It is important to us that the citizens we serve feel safe, secure and enjoy an excellent quality of
life.
Sincerely,
Gerald Williamson
Chief of Police
41
Dedication
The 2014 Annual report is dedicated to those we have lost.
IT IS NOT HOW
THESE OFFICERS DIED
THAT MADE THEM HEROES
IT IS HOW THEY LIVED
VIVIAN ENEY, SURVIVOR
Lieutenant James Wall
End of Watch
December 5th, 1995
Lieutenant Harold Cottle
End of Watch
October 7th, 2007
42
Officer Eric Willmon
End of Watch
April 17th, 2012