APD Annual Reports - 2016 Annual Report | Page 21

• The department started seeing a troubling trend with an increase of fake guns and airsoft replica style guns being used in criminal offenses. In one particular case, a 15-year old boy pulled a BB gun out on an officer as he sat in his squad car. This case could have ended in tragedy but the officer was able to knock the BB gun out of the teen’ s hand and take him into custody. These events led to an in depth community conversation about safety related to replica and fake guns. News media were not able to tell the difference between an officer’ s handgun and a BB gun as illustrated in this side-by-side photo.
Section 3
• Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson threw out the first pitch during the Texas Rangers game on September 17, 2016 at Law Enforcement Appreciation Night. Officer John Abbott, an El Centro Police Officer, was shot during the July 7 th ambush in Dallas and had Chief Johnson throw the pitch for him. The Peace Officers Angels Foundation was on hand during the evening game to highlight the sacrifices and services that our injured officers provide to the communities they serve.
Arlington, Texas Police Department

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