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Thursday, April 18, 2024
On March 7th, 2023, the City Council recognized the retirement of K-9 officer Duco, as presented by Police Chief James Brandon.
Duco is an 11-year old Dutch Shephard that came to the Southlake Police Department from the Netherlands in February of 2015. He was partnered with Officer Nate Anderson and together they have been responsible for tracking felons, numerous drug busts, and apprehending criminals, as displayed by his mutual aid with the Colleyville Police Department two weeks ago.
Duco has been a partner that is an excellent interpreter of aggression, intent, body language, and energy. He has been trusted to interpret these intentions and react appropriately in any situation.
“When I’m told that Duco and Officer Anderson have been deployed in Southlake or one of our surrounding cities, I don’t feel apprehensive,” Chief Brandon said. “I immediately feel confident that the situation will be handled appropriately. We can simply do no better than Duco and Officer Anderson.”
Although Duco is retiring, Officer Anderson will soon receive another partner and continue in his capacity as a K-9 handler.
“Duco has been a match for me the moment we crossed paths,” Officer Anderson said. “He elevated me as a handler and allowed me to experience and accept challenges that were far outside my comfort zones.”
Chief Brandon, speaking on behalf of a grateful City and Police Department, wished Duco a great retirement of “ear scratches and tennis balls.”
For the past ten years, Southlake Police Chief James Brandon has led the department first as an assistant chief and now as Chief.
As far back as he can remember, Brandon only ever wanted to be a cop. He started his path to Southlake with the Corpus Christi Police Department.
“I can remember having conversations where I would have told you I will never be a chief. I don’t have that desire,” Brandon stated. “But every time there was an opening in the level above me, I thought, ‘Well, I think I can do that, and I think I can do a good job, and I don’t want to let somebody else do it because maybe they don’t do a good job.’ I always joke that I stumbled a lot; I just fall upwards.”
Since 2015, when he was named Chief of Police, Brandon has worked to create a department that adheres to the highest standard of accreditation through the Center for Law Enforcement Accreditation. That, coupled with an award-winning School Resource Officer program and continuous efforts to maintain high morale and performance amongst his staff, has made a busy ten years for the Chief.
But then, in 2020, Brandon got the news that changed his life at home and on the job.
Listen to this Southlake Story to hear more.
On February 9th, the Southlake Police Department promoted two officers and gave awards to others and a civilian. Friends and family packed the community room at Southlake DPS Headquarters for the celebration.
Chief Brandon spoke on the importance of family in this career and how they are instrumental for an officer to be successful. He stated he is proud with the direction the department is going with these promotions.
–Corporal Stefan Petrovich was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
–Officer Craig D’amico was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
–Corporal Micah Davis was awarded Officer of the Year for 2022.
–Sergeant William Thomas was awarded Supervisor of the Year for 2022.
–Officer Alex Adams was awarded Officer of the Quarter (Q1).
–Erika Fletcher was awarded Civilian of the Year.
Congratulations to all for their hard work and dedication to the City of Southlake!
It’s been a bit since we’ve shared our adventures, but with the holidays coming in hot, the thieves are out in full force. Here is a sampling of some of the calls and arrests we’ve made through the first part of December!
–Officers were dispatched to a Burglary in Progress call in which an unknown man was on the caller’s property, sitting in the caller’s car. Officers arrived and detained the man, who they found had dementia and was confused. A loved one arrived to assist and took him to the hospital for unrelated medical issues.
–A female stole a pair of shoes and several pairs of socks from Nordstrom Rack and got into a car to escape. Officers stopped them at 1500 Main Street, where they recovered the property and arrested both the thief and the driver for multiple drug charges, fraudulent use of identifying info, and theft. The driver had four pending charges of felony theft, fail to ID as a fugitive, and multiple drug charges. The duo was also in possession of multiple credit cards not in their name.
–We responded to an Indecent Assault at Market by Macy’s in which a customer exposed himself and inappropriately touched an employee. The suspect fled after that, but had made a purchase with his Macy’s Star Rewards Membership card, so he was identified and charges are pending.
–Officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 114 and suspected DWI. They made an arrest for DWI/Open Container and also seized drugs. The driver was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 2 4g<400g.
–Two thieves hopped a fence and went into an open garage where a car was left unlocked with a Louis Vuitton purse on the seat. The bad guys stole it, hopped the fence, and fled. The victim gave us video footage and we have possible fingerprints.
–Officers responded to a vacant house, where the owner had seen a car parked outside. He went inside and found the master bedroom door locked. After we set a perimeter, the suspect came outside and we found they had previously changed the back door locks to get inside and use the facilities and house. The suspect was arrested for Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief.
–Multiple catalytic converters stolen from neighborhoods and businesses.
While conducting a business check on Holiday Initiative, an Officer observed a gray Dodge Charger backed into the handicap spot in front of Banana Republic unoccupied, running, and without a handicap placard. While checked out on the vehicle, two subjects exited Victoria’s Secret and stated that it was their vehicle. The manager from Victoria’s Secret stated she believed both subjects were in the process of stealing two full bags of merchandise but left the product on the floor when observing our Officer at their vehicle. The manager requested a criminal trespass warning for both females. The owner of the vehicle was also cited for two parking violation and both subjects received criminal trespass warnings. Both suspects had prior arrests for theft.
The Southlake Police Department welcomed Officer Arianna Martinez to the force earlier this year, fresh after graduating from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) police academy.
Officer Martinez was born in Phoenix, Arizona, enlisted in the Air National Guard when she was 18, and still currently serves.
She stated she’s always wanted to be a police officer, and her desires were solidified when she watched her older cousin become a law enforcement officer after her military experience. Her cousin was her role model, and seeing her accomplish that goal showed Officer Martinez that she could as well. She fostered a strong relationship with the SRO in her high school and wanted to emulate that relationship one day when she was an officer.
Officer Martinez said she chose the Southlake Police Department because she “wanted to be treated as a member of a family and not a number.” She is still shocked by the amazing support the department gets from the community and it reinforces her decision.
“I want to tell the citizens of Southlake that I’m already in love with this community, and I’m grateful for their support,” she said. “I’m looking forward to creating awesome and memorable relationships with as many of them as possible.”
Assistant Police Chief Ashleigh Casey and Senior Planning and Building Services Director Ken Baker were recently honored by their City of Southlake colleagues as Deputy Director of the Year and Outstanding Strategic Performer of the year, respectively.
“Ashleigh and Ken reached for and achieved excellence in their departments,” said City Manager Shana Yelverton. “2020 certainly didn’t turn out the way we had planned, but even with all of the challenges, I am so proud of how they worked with the community, the City Council, and city employees to keep the City moving forward during one of the most demanding years in memory.”
Chief Casey has been with the department since 2000 and was named Assistant Police Chief in 2015. She has a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas in Arlington and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Baker has been with the City since 1999. He was named Senior Director of Planning and Building Services in 2013. He has a Master’s degree in Geography with an emphasis in City Planning from Western Kentucky University.
There are two aspects of the law enforcement profession that are constant: the call to act in an individual’s time of need and having to rely on others in your own time of need. Both aspects of a law enforcement career carry their own situational rules, all of which are aimed and geared towards providing a level of service to meet any identified need, regardless of the severity or quantity of people effected.
Many times officers are called upon by members of the community in times of duress, which can range from being stranded alongside the roadway in need of a tire change to other more serious instances involving a family crisis or in extreme cases, the need for protection against a family member or strangers. Without initially having all the specific facts for these types of emergencies, officers are expected to arrive prepared in their response while still acting within the confines of the law. However, what about the times when officers themselves need help, who can they call on for support?
In situations such as these, officers may turn towards their own and the assistance comes from within the agency or sometimes by other outreach groups within the community. Realizing that none of us have ever lived through the COVID-19 pandemic before, it has become a fast and accelerating learning curve for all. However, during this time, three individuals within the Southlake Police Department have worked behind the scenes and without recognition to keep all members of the agency, as well as other work groups within the City, protected when called upon to protect and meet the needs of the community.
Officer David Aldridge, Community Initiatives Coordinator Valerie Snyder and Administrative Secretary Diana Green have relentlessly searched for, coordinated and gathered needed supplies to keep officers of the Southlake Police Department in business since the beginning of the pandemic.
From the start of the COVID pandemic, Aldridge stepped up and assisted the Police Department in gathering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other sanitation equipment. As the pandemic continued, Aldridge helped in creating a PPE and sanitation inventory to keep track of all PPE equipment for the department. During that time, he also became the main contact for Purchasing Manager Tim Slifka on receiving all PPE orders from the City and distributing them accordingly.
Aldridge worked closely with Snyder and Green to make sure items were ordered and distributed accordingly.
“Aldridge went out of his way on numerous occasions to be available for anyone who needed the PPE equipment and sort out all the shipments to make sure it got to the right department,” Patrol Captain Jose Luna said. “On top of it all, Aldridge is in charge of the patrol units for the department. During this pandemic, he also took a shipment of three new patrol vehicles and has worked hard to get them ready to hit the road. Officer Aldridge has always been a team player and makes himself available for anyone who needs assistance.”
Through coordinated efforts, Snyder and Green have reached out to numerous companies, supply chains, independent contractors and even generous citizens, in order to obtain basic needed supplies such as: hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, face shields, Tyvek suits and other sanitary products. Through their assistance, they have obtained enough supplies to build Aldridge’s inventory to allow officers to still function within the confines of the law and to respond to emergencies when called upon in time of need.
“I have directly witnessed Valerie’s assistance and the impact she has on the agency. Her ability to think outside of the box coupled with her intuitive nature, allowed her to navigate unknown systems where numerous individuals or corporations were applying and competing for the same resources,” Professional Standards Division Captain Jason Henninger said. “In many instances, it came down to the relationships she had previously built that allowed our agency to receive what was needed, which is immeasurable. Due to her ability to build these types of professional working relationships the agency recognizes her as a true and exceptional asset.”
The work of these three individuals has not been overlooked or forgotten, and will forever stand as examples of Innovation, Commitment to Excellence and Teamwork!
The City of Southlake is the recipient of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award for the Most Effective Campaign $5,000 Or Less, Government.
“I am so proud of Southlake DPS and the City for their amazing efforts,” said Southlake Mayor Laura Hill. “They have taken a humorous yet effective approach to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work, and drive in Southlake. I love how they went about it.”
In early 2018, the Police Department set a goal to “Humanize the Badge” and to eliminate the “cop talk” that often tended to be formal and uninviting.
What replaced it? A fun, pop culture driven social media strategy that would help cement the public’s trust with a nationally accredited Police Department that protects, is compassionate, and engages with the people they serve.
“The innovative and unconventional approach took a leap of faith,” said City Manager Shana Yelverton. “But we felt the risk was worth it to get important messages to the public in a form they could digest and enjoy.”
“We had a good following on the Southlake DPS Facebook accounts,” said Police Chief James Brandon. “But with our change in strategy, we saw a 285% increase in Facebook followers, which was important to achieving a crowdsourcing approach to ensuring safety and security.”
As the following grew, the posts focused on three main areas: sound police management practices and protocols, the officers’ professional training, and their relationship-building activities. But make no mistake, the approach was anything but ordinary.
People started noticing after a Facebook and Twitter post called “GURL CALL ME.”
The post was a “letter” written to a woman suspected of identity theft. The letter was much more than the usual, “we are looking for this criminal” narrative, as it used emojis and “teen girl talk” to give facts about the case and also signed off with the now infamous phrase GURL CALL ME. With this post, the Southlake DPS Facebook page saw its following double in less than 24 hours, reaching more than 3.1 million people and 1.7 million engagements.
The person behind the video, memes, and fun writing is Officer Brad Uptmore. His Baylor University film degree along with 12 and half years of police experience, was put to work to make the strategy come alive. Since that first viral post, Uptmore has created more than several dozens of videos including the popular Pumpkin Spice Citations video and the Use Your JAR JAR BLINKER when driving on Star Wars Day video. He’s also created dozens of memes including the long-standing joke/reminder to drive 30mph on Randol Mill since it’s a road construction zone. But despite the light-hearted demeanor, Officer Uptmore is all business when it comes to safety and security.
“It is such a privilege to do this job,” said Officer Uptmore. “Chief Brandon’s willingness to let me try different ideas to help people be safe and make safe choices as well as get to know our officers? It’s a win-win!”
Since 1944, PRSA has awarded Silver Anvil Awards annually to organizations around the world for outstanding strategic public relations programs. According to the PRSA website, judges look for programs or campaigns “that incorporate sound insights and analysis, planning, execution, and evaluation. They must meet the highest standards of performance in the profession.”
The Silver Anvil Award for the Most Effective Campaign $5,000 Or Less, Government is the City of Southlake’s first PRSA Silver Anvil Award.
Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law banning the use of red light cameras on June 1, 2019. Under the new law, the City’s red light camera program immediately ceased operation.
The City has formally notified Redflex Traffic Systems, the company contracted by the City to operate the cameras, to cease operations and terminate the contract. The contract allows for the City to terminate immediately once the State ban occurred.
No further payments for violations will be processed.
Southlake has four cameras. In the coming weeks, the City will work with Redflex to have the cameras removed from the following locations:
Southlake Boulevard @ Pearson Lane
Southlake Boulevard @ Kimball Avenue
Southlake Boulevard @ Carroll Avenue
Southlake Boulevard @ Peytonville Avenue
Notifications for the minor traffic disruption, while the cameras are being removed, will be shared on social media once dates are selected.
While money from the red light cameras was included as part of the budget, the total dollars were split three ways. Redflex took 50 percent for processing, 25 percent went to the State of Texas and the remaining 25 percent went to Southlake where funds supported traffic safety initiatives such as school zone striping and maintenance.
“The removal of the red light cameras will not impact our efforts to protect Southlake,” notes Southlake Police Chief James Brandon. “We will continue with our work to keep our intersections as safe as possible. Our Traffic and Patrol Divisions work diligently every day to help ensure the traveling public in Southlake reaches their destinations safely.”
For questions about red light cameras visit the red light camera webpage on the City’s website.