INVESTING IN THE COMMU
It’ s not unusual to see uniformed police officers at the scene of a crime, at a crash site, or in marked cars patrolling the streets. You might be more surprised to find them at a city park cooking burgers and hotdogs, and serving them to community members. Officers and professional staff also participate in many other programs and initiatives to help build trust and support within the neighborhoods they serve— and to challenge people’ s notions of what policing looks like.
Officers hosted the Arlington Police Bicycle Rodeo at Duff Elementary where kids learned bicycle safety and rode through a bicycle skills course. Families visited with the Mounted Patrol, SWAT, and Aviation Unit as well.
Thanks to the initiative of Officer Jose Estrada and Officer Joshua Loesel, officers distributed more than 260 backpacks containing school supplies to 11 different Northside elementary schools in August. Teachers also received hand sanitizer and sanitation wipes to help keep students and staff healthy and safe.
In October, APD joined volunteers for a Unite Arlington weekend of clean-up projects to make the community a better place to live. They also assisted with moving furniture provided by Sharefest Texas into an apartment for a family of five.
24 | 2021 Annual Report