Click here for more information.

The Ask A Cop program is part of the Tyler Police Department's efforts to be accessible and available to all residents of the community. Throughout the year, officers set up information tables at grocery stores, retail stores and other visible locations to provide information about Police Department programs, listen to citizens concerns and answer questions.

Call the Community Resource Office at 903-531-1096 for more information and scheduling.

 

Anything that interferes with your business steals from your bottom line profit. These programs are not to show you how to run your business. They are designed to help your company and your employees avert crime and safety issues that might present themselves in daily activities. These issues if left unapprised can divert a business from its primary function of meeting its bottom line.

• Violence In The Work Place and Personal Safety;  Each is a 1 hour program, and when combined, both can be covered in 1 1/2 hour.
• Theft Prevention; Shoplifting prevention, Shrinkage reduction
• Safe Money Handling: Cash Register Procedures, Quick Change Schemes, Till Tapping, End of Day Cash Receipts Procedures
• Forgery Loss Prevention; Check Cashing Procedures, Credit Card Fraud, Counterfeit Bill Detection
• Security Survey of the Physical Plant of the Business ( Both Modified and Complete)

Contact the Community Response Team, 903-531-1096, for information or to set up an appointment.

ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL TRESSPASS PROGRAM

Tyler Police and the City of Tyler have formed a plan to help businesses with the problems of after-hours gatherings on the businesses' parking lots.  The unauthorized assemblies on private properties create noise for neighbors and trash for the businesses.  The business owners contacted the Tyler Police Community Response Officers for a solution.  Taking a cue from Mesquite, Officer Royce Jordan created an 'Attempted Criminal Trespass' program, based on Texas law, that allows officers to cite any individual who occupies a property, after business hours, without a legitimate purpose.  Under this program, the police are able to cite trespassers on any property on which the business has properly posted a no trespassing sign (see photo below).  Any business that is interested in this program can contact the Tyler Community Response Office at 903-531-1096.

Job Title	Citizen on Park Patrol
Purpose	Inspect City parks for the general conditions of maintenance and welfare, benefiting the community.
Description	Daily inspection of general conditions in the city parks from the physical conditions of lighting, cleanliness, landscape evaluation, vandalism, and graffiti markings, etc.
Qualifications	Good physical mobility, operate a cellular phone, and a concern for the community.
Training	Training by department personnel.
Time Commitment	On-going
Responsible To	Tyler Police Department and Tyler Parks & Recreation.

For further information contact Volunteer Coordinator Gary Lynch at (903) 531-1071.

To Volunteer for the Citizens Park Patrol please download a Volunteer Application (Adobe Format).

Click here for more information.

This program is designed to aid in the prevention of crime and to provide assistance to persons in need. This can be accomplished through the participation of persons who travel throughout the City of Tyler and surrounding area by reporting incidents they may see or hear. The Tyler Police Department and other Public Service Agencies need each of you to assist in making Tyler a safer and more serene place to live. Use your EYES and EARS to help.

Method of Reporting

You can use a cell phone, telephone, or your car radio.

Tyler Police Department Dispatcher	531-1000
Emergency Calls (Ambulance, Fire, Police)	911
Texas Department Of Public Safety	933-6001 933-6002
Smith County Sheriff Dispatcher	535-0911

Reporting An Incident

Please Do The Following

1. Gather information you wish to communicate before calling (Think).
2. Know the address or description of your location
3. State what kind of assistance is needed or have an idea.
4. Speak slowly, clearly, and distinctly. Control your excitement.
5. Remain as close to the scene of the incident as possible.
6. Stay out of the danger zone if any threat is present or likely!!

What To Report

• All Emergency Situations:
  • Any threat to life or physical well-being.
  • Any threat to property.
• Any Appearance of Criminal Activity:
  • Crimes in progress.
    • Robbery
    • Assault
    • Burglary
    • Theft
    • Peace Officer needing aid
      • Officer down
      • Being assaulted
      • Chasing someone on foot
    • Criminal Traffic Offenses
      • Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID)
      • Hit and Run
    • Any Suspicious Person or Activity (That which seems out of place or does not appear as it should.)
      • A loud party with minor age participants.
      • Someone who seems out of place and is looking into cars, into garages, and homes while walking through the area.
      • Children who a1ppear neglected or who do not appear to be supervised.
    • Acts of criminal mischief or vandalism
    • Possible Drug trafficking or activity.
      • Frequent traffic at all hours both on foot and motorized.
      • Strange odors and an accumulation of chemical containers.
      • People standing around a house or location and in the street at all hours, also stopping traffic.
• Non-Criminal Emergency Threats to Life And Property:
  • Traffic Related Incidents:
    • All Motor Vehicle Accidents:
      • Any injuries and how serious.
      • Any road blockage
      • Fuel spill or other fire hazard
      • Public utilities damaged (watch for downed wires)
    • Traffic Hazards:
      • Roadway blocked by any obstruction (tree, vehicle, downed wires)
      • Debris on the roadway
      • Loose livestock
      • Traffic sign down or missing
      • Traffic signal malfunction
    • Stranded Motorist: Try to determine the nature of the problem (Fuel, Tow truck, Flat tire).
      • Elderly or Handicapped Female
      • By request of the motorist.

Know the difference between emergency and minor annoyances, traffic offenses and other non-critical traffic events that do not require reporting.

 

• Fire Calls: Any time a fire emergency is suspected the call should be made. Any uncertainty requires that it be checked out and not just disregarded. Fire is a wild, unruly servant and a ruthless, intolerant master.
  • Call in on all:
    • Building type fires
    • Vehicle fires
    • Untended Vegetation Fires (grass, trees, trash)
  • Pay attention to Burn Ban violations and report them.
• Animal Calls:
  • Rabid appearing animals
  • Vicious animals which are loose and could cause injury.
  • Loose animals which could present a traffic hazard or cause property damage.
  • Animal neglect or abuse.

The Major Do's and Don't of the program.

Keep writing material handy and write down what you see. The important information to get is the descriptions of people and vehicles.

On a Major Call Or Incident, try to stand by at the scene or close to the area to provide further information if possible.

Do not attempt to restrain a person if they are leaving the scene of an incident. Write down what information you have, and wait for emergency personnel.

Remember always to stay out of the danger zone. Evaluate all situations before becoming personally involved. Observe, call and watch. Protect yourself by never putting yourself or others at risk.

Your help is needed. If you see or hear something, please take the time to REPORT IT.

A Summary of the Eyes & Ears Program

If you observe an incident that needs further investigation;

1. Be careful and observant.
2. Be calm.
3. Write down descriptions of persons and vehicles.
4. Notify your local law enforcement or emergency agency immediately. Stay on the line and do not break your communications link until told to do so.
5. Do not discuss details of an incident with anyone other than officers or emergency personnel.
6. Take no action that will jeopardize your own or another's safety. Remember Hero Awards are also presented POSTHUMOUSLY to family members.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated in providing extra "EYES AND EARS" to help promote a safer and more benevolent community in which to live and work.

Texas H.E.A.T., or Help End Auto Theft, is a voluntary statewide automobile registration program developed to help reduce auto theft in Texas.

This program has been established by the Department of Public Safety under the direction of the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority as the result of Texas Revised Civil Statutes, Article 4413(37).

To enroll, the registered owner of a vehicle signs a registration form with a participating local law enforcement agency stating that a peace officer may stop his/her vehicle if found occupied on streets anywhere in Texas between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. to inquire as to ownership of the vehicle.

A vehicle owner must present the following criteria to a participating local law enforcement agency:

• His/Her vehicle.
• Photo identification.
• Proof of insurance and/or vehicle registration receipt.

When a registration is signed and the ownership of the vehicle is verified, a color-coded decal will be affixed to the inside of the front windshield and another decal to the outside of the rear windshield to indicate the vehicle is registered with the program.

A white front decal indicates that the owner also consents to have the register vehicle stopped whenever that vehicle crosses or is about to cross the border into Mexico directly from Texas 24 hours a day; a yellow front decal indicates the owner only consents to the border stop between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Information concerning the vehicle will be entered into the statewide computer file for purposes of enforcement.

The fee for registration is one cent per vehicle and is payable to the registering agency. Registration is for a period of four (4) years. Registration does not prevent the owner or anyone to whom the owner grants permission from driving the vehicle during the program hours of enforcement.

The vehicle owner agrees to advise anyone granted permission to operate the vehicle of the H.E.A.T. registration. The vehicle owner agrees to and understands that peace officers will take certain precautions when making a stop on a registered vehicle during the program hours because it is suspected that the vehicle has been stolen. 

An individual who wishes to withdraw from the statewide program or transfers possession of the vehicle must full remove the Texas H.E.A.T. decals and notify the registering agency in writing to such removal.

Any questions regarding this program may call any of the Community Response Officers of the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1096, or the Department of Public Safety H.E.A.T. Program Staff at 512-424-2483.

We invite you to participate! YOU can help reduce auto thefts!

The Tyler Police Departments Mobile Store Front is a 2001 30 foot trailer, specifically built for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and distributed to different law enforcement agencies for use in disaster preparedness.

The trailer serves many purposes, such as being an on-scene headquarters for police activities like Bicycle Rodeos, community safety programs and child fingerprinting.  It is also used as a command center for critical missing searches, natural disasters, hostage situation, and barricaded subjects.  When on the scene of any crisis or activity it provides facilities for the use of officers and the command staff.  Complete with a seating area, a private meeting room, and a restroom it is a place for making plans or simply giving an officer a break after an extended deployment.  With a kitchenette included refreshments can be provided for the weary.  A roll-out canopy protects the outside area with shade or respite from wet weather.

Another use of the Mobile Store Front is to allow the department to go into a community and have the citizens of the neighborhood stop in and visit.  It is used as the focus in Neighborhood Watch programs where block parties, clean-up programs, and other special neighborhood programs are being conducted.  It is also useful in neighborhood drug interdiction.  The trailer also displays the police web address so that the casual observer can check out the police site on the city's website.

Click here for a Texans Against Crime brochure.

Click here for a Texans Against Crime registration form.

Click here to register on-line.

Tylerites wishing to protect their property from theft can enroll in Operation ID. The program allows citizens to use property log sheets and an engraver from the Police Department. They can record all of their property on the log sheets and engrave identifying information on those items that do not have identifiers, such as model and serial numbers.

The main police station and each of the substations have the log sheets and engravers, which can be signed out by Tyler citizens. The log sheets have a place for brand names, model names or numbers, serial numbers, and other identifiers. After Operation ID logs are filled out they should be kept in a secure locations, preferably in a fire resistant lock box. Having this information recorded will help police agencies to reunite you with your property should it ever be stolen.

Call the Community Response Office at 531-1096 for more information.

The 67^th Legislature of the State of Texas provided for the opportunity of a 5% to a maximum 20% reduction in premiums for those homes which meet the specific requirements as outlined in the Texas Insurance Code Article 5.33A, Section 6(a)(1), (2).

Police officers assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit are certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) as inspectors for the purpose of conducting these insurance reduction inspections.

This Mandated Premium Reduction Certification is valid for a three-(3) year period, with renewal at the homeowners request for an additional three year period before a reinspection is required.  These requirements are considered as minimum and cannot be waived by the inspector.  The following is a list of the requirements imposed by the above-mentioned statute that must be met prior to certification.

HOME SECURITY HARDWARE:

Article 5.33A, Section 6(a)(1), Texas Insurance Code states:

A persons residence qualifies for a 5% discount on homeowners insurance premiums if the property meets the following specifications:

1. Exterior doors must be solid core doors that are 1 3/8 inches thick and must be secured by deadbolt locks.  The deadbolt must lock with a minimum throw of one (1) inch and must penetrate a metal strike plate firmly secured to the doorframe.  If a door secured with a deadbolt has breakable glass within forty (40) inches of the lock, the deadbolt lock must be a double cylinder (double keyed) deadbolt.  (UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LIFE SAFETY CODE). 
2. Deadbolt locks (as outlined above) must secure metal doors.
3. Double doors must meet specifications for exterior doors listed above in (1), and have the inactive door secured by header and threshold bolts that penetrate metal strike plates.  If glass is located within forty inches of the header and threshold bolts, the bolts must be flush-mounted in the edge of the door.
4. Sliding glass doors are secured by secondary locking devices to prevent lifting and prying.
5. Dutch doors have a concealed flush-bolt locking device to interlock the upper and lower halves and a deadbolt lock as described in (1) above secures the door.
6. Garage doors are equipped with key-operating locking devices.
7. Windows are secured by auxiliary locking devices.  An auxiliary locking device required by this section must include screws, wooden dowels, pinning devices, or key-operated locks.  In areas where life safety codes permit, metal bars or grating, if mounted to prevent easy removal, may be substituted for auxiliary locking devices.  Jalousie or louvered windows DO NOT meet the specifications of this section unless they have metal grating mounted as provided for above.

ALARM SYSTEMS:

Article 5.33A, Section 6(a)(2), Texas Insurance Code states:

A persons residence qualifies for a 15% discount on homeowners insurance premiums if the property is equipped with an electronic burglar alarm that meets the following specifications

1. All exterior structure openings are contacted.  (This includes ALL exterior windows and doors.)
2. The alarm system includes an interior AND exterior siren.
3. The alarm is monitored by a U.L. (Underwriters Laboratories) approved central station.
4. All alarms system equipment is U.L. approved.
5. All sales, service, installation and monitoring of the alarm system are done in compliance with the Private Investigations and Private Security Agencies Act (Article 4413 (29bb), Vernons Texas Civil Statutes).
6. The Texas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies licenses the Alarm Company.

Information concerning the licensing requirements and U.L. approval of alarm equipment can be obtained from your alarm company representative.  THIS INFORMATION MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTOR AT THE TIME OF THE INPECTION IN ORDER FOR THE ALARM SITE TO PASS.

The above requirements are mandated by the Texas Department of Insurance and will not be waived.

When you feel that you are in compliance with all of the requirements call one of the numbers listed and schedule an insurance premium reduction inspection.  If you do not understand the requirements or are not sure if your home is in compliance please call the Crime Prevention Officers and ask for assistance.  This service and the inspection are free of charge to residents in Tyler.

Some insurance companies are participating in an optional Property Identification Theft Reduction Program that can also be used for an additional 5% premium reduction.

United States Department of Justice ID Fraud webpage

Federal Trade Commission ID Fraud Webpage

Texas Department of Public Safety ID Fraud webpage

The Tyler Police Department teams up with the Smith County Public Health District and local businesses several times each year to offer Bicycle Safety Rodeos. The rodeos include bicycle inspections, lessons on bike safety and free bicycle helmets for local children. It is also a good opportunity for children of all ages to meet and interact with local police officers.

In a perfect world, our children would be safe from all harm.  They could play with friends and go off to school without any worries or concerns.  But this is the real world. Although most kids grow up without any negative experiences, we have to do our best to prepare them in case they are ever in danger or threatened in any way.

The Tyler Police Department has been involved with fingerprinting kids for identification purposes for several years.  A lost or missing child needs to be found as quickly as possible.  The crime prevention unit has a fingerprint card for parents that allows them to record vital information in one place along with a picture of their child.  The information on the fingerprint card is helpful for law enforcement personnel and volunteers to help locate a lost or missing child.

Crime prevention officers conduct child fingerprinting at safety fairs, schools, and other events throughout the year.  If your group is interested in the child fingerprinting program contact the Community Resource Team. 

Safety Tips

Teach your child their home address and telephone numbers and review this information regularly.

Explain to your child that strangers are people they do not know.  Strangers can be men, women, boys, girls, and even babies.  Of course, not all strangers are bad, but it is difficult, if not impossible to determine a good stranger from a bad one.  Remind your child that they should not take walks or rides with a stranger, and they should not accept gifts, candy or food from people that they do not know.

Parents should not overlook the possibility of molestation or abduction by known persons.  Encourage your child to talk about their feelings, and really listen to the childs fears and concerns about people you know.

As a parent, set good examples for your child by not opening your door to people that you do not know.  Use the peephole to preview outside before opening the door.  Talk to strangers through a closed, locked door.

Place 9-1-1 stickers on every telephone in your home.  Explain to children that emergencies are situations where someone could get hurt or are already hurt.  When you call 9-1-1, a highly trained emergency call taker that can assist with police, fire and medical emergencies answers your call.

Adopt a family code word and caution your child to never go with anyone who does not know this code word.  Change the code word every so often.

Check your childs route to and from school.  Let your childs teacher know the names of the people authorized to pick your child up from school.

If Your Child Is Missing

1. Remain calm
2. Check your entire house and the surrounding area.
3. Contact friends, neighbors, or relatives and ask them to check around their areas.
4. Contact your childs friends or their parents.
5. Contact your local law enforcement agency.

Have all biographical information about the child ready to turn over to your law enforcement agency.

Appoint a responsible friend or relative to be in charge of the telephone.

Tell authorities about any family disputes, which may be pertinent to the disappearance of the child.

The Tyler Police Explorers’ goal is reaching the young adults and future leaders of our community and introducing them to the field of Law Enforcement.  During the last six years, Tyler Explorer Post #310 has participated in numerous state competitions, 2 national competitions, academies, campouts, fairs, concerts, ski trips, public service events, and other events.  We have toured Washington D.C. and the Grand Canyon.  New friends have been made internationally.  We have made tremendous progress in the past 6 years and are still growing.      The Tyler Police Explorer Post is looking for young adults between the ages of 14 and 20, and at least a Freshman in high school, to explore opportunities in Law Enforcement and to responsibility to yourself and your community.  Contact Jim Holt at 903-531-1000 or James Holt.      Explorers at the Grand Canyon, 2002. Explorers with one of their trophies.    Explorers at Attention.

McGruff

McGruff The Crime Dog is the symbol of a national effort to inform us and our children of the effects of crime, the recognition of crime, and how to be safe from it.

The Tyler Police Department, with the help of its volunteers puts on programs about safety rules for our city's youth anywhere and at anytime an organization would like to have such a program presented. The only thing that is required is for the organization to give ample time for the program to be scheduled. All presentations are on a first-come-first-served basis.

Any group of children, including school classes, can have a McGruff presentation. The Department has two McGruff units. One unit is automated and talks and sings with children. McGruff can speak about stranger danger and other topics.

If you have ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a "rock star" with your fans surrounding you, just come to the police department and ask to participate in your own McGruff Safety Show.

Officer Just B. Good

On May 16, 1998 a new breed of officer reported for duty at the Tyler Police Department. Officer "Just B. Good" was hired to teach kids, as well as adults, the importance of traffic safety. Since then, he has taught lessons to kids on seatbelt safety, pedestrian safety, stranger danger, and gun safety along with many other topics.

Officer Good is a robot who pedals a mean looking red tricycle for transportation around the city. He has bright yellow hair that stands up like the cartoon character Bart Simpson. He can also dance and sing.

Officer Good was born in Garland, Texas and weighs in at about 45 pounds. He was one of only 17 of this new breed of officer in the United States in 1998. He was purchased with money obtained through a Traffic Grant that the Tyler Police Department received.

Officer Good can present safety programs anywhere within the city. Kids and adults are fascinated by Officer Good and listen intently to the lessons he teaches.

The S.T.A.R. program is designed to create a school climate of responsibility through a grant-funded program designed for long-term results in reducing youth criminal activity; opening communication lines with students, teachers and police officers; and creating an atmosphere of building responsible adults from the youth of Tyler. The program purchased from the Thomas Jefferson Center (California) with funds from the Communities Foundation of Texas, Inc. (Dallas, Texas). This program is targeting the school kids in all 16 elementary schools in TISD. There are 415 teachers involved in the program and TISD is calling it the 'STAR" program. "STAR" is an acronym for STOP, THINK, ACT, and REVIEW.

The program reinforces positive behavior on the part of the student and also helps bridge the gap between the youth and police. Students are encouraged to do the things necessary that will make him/her a better student and a better person. He/She is being prepared to be a successful individual. If the students retains the principles being presented in this program, the probability of him/her being involved in any type of criminal behavior (drug abuse, theft, assault, etc.) is greatly reduced.

The program puts officers on the school campus with the kids at a time in their lives when they are very impressionable and are just starting to form opinions about the police. The program attempts to make these opinions "positive". Those children who appear to be "at-risk" can also be identified and referrals made if necessary for counseling. At a time when students are turning down the wrong road at a very early age, this is a great program for helping them make the right choices, improve themselves and their future and make better citizens in the process.

The expected results of the program are to increase daily attendance, reduce out-of-school suspensions, reduce in-school suspensions, reduce referrals to the office, reduce fights, and increase learning and academic achievement.

The S.T.A.R. program teaches the following twelve steps to success (Thomas Jefferson Research Center):

• Be confident
• Be Responsible
• Be Here Be on Time
• Be Friendly
• Be Polite
• Be Prepared
• Be a Listener
• Be a Doer
• Be a Tough Worker
• Be a Risk Taker
• Be a Goal Setter

For further information on the S.T.A.R. program contact Sgt. Gary Rice at (903)531-1096.