Flower Mound Reduces Crime Rate for Third Consecutive Year

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Flower Mound Reduces Crime Rate for Third Consecutive Year

Crediting the placement of additional patrol officers on the streets, the creation of two new police beats, and staffing and equipment benefits made possible by the Town's dedicated crime district sales tax, the Flower Mound Police Department is reporting a five percent reduction in the overall crime rate for 2009. This is the third consecutive year the Town has experienced a percentage decrease in overall crime.

Through proactive recruitment, thorough testing, and aggressive training, police department supervisors were able to hire several new officers and fill remaining positions allocated by the dedicated crime district sales tax between January and December. The additional personnel allowed the department to implement two new police beats, reduce overall beat sizes patrolled by the officers, and generally reduce overall response times. Implemented in 2008, Police Beat Seven covers southeastern Flower Mound, and created in 2009, Police Beat Eight encompasses the western sector of the community.

The department credits the one quarter cent dedicated crime control and prevention sales tax approved by voters in 2007 for providing the funding necessary to implement the staffing and patrol improvements. In addition to a reduction in the overall crime rate, total thefts decreased by 11 percent, other offenses decreased by eight percent, and auto accidents decreased by two percent. Department Volunteers with the Citizen Public Safety Patrol are also credited with assisting in the response to crime by serving numerous roles in the field, which do not require a sworn police officer, including responding to non violent calls for service, special event management, inclement weather mitigation, and automobile accident scene traffic control.

The Flower Mound Police Department will continue working toward the positive trend of decreasing crime rates and reduced response times in 2010. Additional staffing and operational improvements will include the selection of two new detectives, continued training and educational opportunities, including a newly implemented quarterly training cycle for all officers, and the pursuit of grant funding for new technologies that will make officers more efficient and effective in responding to service calls and reporting of crime.

Posted 01/22/10.