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Police Department
2021 Annual Reports Now Available
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Tarrant County, Texas is home to an estimated 2.1 million people. Over the last ten years, Tarrant County’s population has increased by more than 16% making it the second fastest growing county in Texas and the fifth fastest growing county in the United States. The City of Fort Worth’s population has also increased exponentially, and in 2020 it became the second fastest growing major city and the 12th largest city in the United States.
Each day, an estimated 250,000 people pass through the City of Lake Worth. This significant movement of people represents about 12% of Tarrant County’s total population. Most people passing through do so for work, school, and entertainment. In many ways, the City of Lake Worth is the gateway of commerce for west Tarrant County. That is why it is the mission of the Lake Worth Police Department to create a safe environment where life and commerce thrive.
Over the last three years, the crime and crash prevention strategies used by the Lake Worth Police Department reduced crime despite being surrounded by significant growth, development, and skyrocketing crime. Our goal is preventing crime, not catching criminals. We believe that an effective police department does not have high arrest statistics, but its community has low crime rates. At the Lake Worth Police Department, our standard is excellence. Although proud of the work done in 2021, we remain committed to our mission and are taking additional steps to ensure crime does not gain a foothold in our community. All 2021 departmental reports are available on our website at: www.lakeworthtx.org/police/trust
On September 25, 2021, the Lake Worth Police Department became the 183rd accredited law enforcement agency in the State of Texas through the Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices Accreditation Program. The Lake Worth Police Department is one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the state, and this achievement is one of many that affirms the department’s commitment to its guiding principle of excellence in service and protection.
Accreditation provides an independent review of the department’s internal operations and assures the citizens and visitors of Lake Worth that the Lake Worth Police Department adheres to the highest law enforcement standards. A description of the program may be viewed on the Texas Police Chiefs Association website at http://www.texaspolicechiefs.org
Lake Worth proud to be “Storm Ready” certified
The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events. Roughly 98% of all presidential disaster declarations are weather and flood-related, leading to over 500 deaths, 2,500 injuries, and nearly $15 billion in damages each year (sources: FEMA, NCDC, and Munich RE).
The devastating impacts of extreme events can be reduced through improved readiness. The Storm Ready program is a partnership with emergency management that helps reduce risk and increases community resilience to hazards. Storm Ready helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local hazardous weather operations by implementing procedures that reduce the potential for disastrous, weatherrelated consequences.
On November 4th, 2021, the City of Lake Worth was officially recognized as a Storm Ready Community by the National Weather Service.
By participating in Storm Ready, the City of Lake Worth has earned recognition by meeting the program’s guidelines.
• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center • Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public • Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally • Promote the importance of public readiness • Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
Storm Ready communities have made a solid commitment to implement the infrastructure and systems needed to save lives and protect property when hazardous weather and flooding strikes. Storm Ready is a voluntary program that directly supports NWS’ strategic vision of a “Weather-Ready Nation.”
