The Irving Police Department has a new initiative that is concentrating on preventing crime in the area of Belt Line Road and Northgate Drive. A patrol unit made up of a sergeant and six patrol officers will use many of the same strategies that have proven successful for the department’s Problem Solving unit. The team was reassigned to work closely with residents, business owners and apartment managers to identify and address the origins of crime in the area.
“We will be able to spend more time talking to the stakeholders in the area so we can get a better understanding of what is causing crime,” said Sgt. Michael Sabre. “The majority of people who live and work in the area are good, hard working people. Our goal is to identify the small number of offenders who are committing the crimes.”
Even though overall crime in Irving is down, the Police Department continually evaluates strategies used to decrease crime. By using strategic initiatives in areas that have been identified as having a higher number of calls for service, the department has been able to significantly reduce crime in those locations. “We can’t do it alone,” said Sabre. “This needs to be a collaborative effort.” The community can expect to see an increased police and code enforcement presence in the area as officers work to target issues. The Police Department will be working with other city departments such as Housing and Human Services, Development Services, Public Works and Corporate Communications.
