APD Annual Reports - 2017 Annual Report | Page 20

Getting Noticed The Media Office works proactively to publish the accomplishments of the department through news releases, social media, and videos. • In August, Officer Dale Horton stopped a motorist for a broken taillight. After hearing the young mom recount her struggling story, Officer Horton made the judgment call to get her light fixed in lieu of a citation. The single mom of five children recounted her story on social media which drew the attention of local news media. Officer Horton paid for the parts himself and contacted a mechanic friend to make the repair. The young woman was eternally grateful for the compassion shown to her. Officer Horton has served the citizens of Arlington for 35 years. • In the virtual world, law enforcement is always in the spotlight. Back in January, Havyn Rogers sent a tweet to the department highlighting a compassionate act by an unknown officer who paid it forward with the purchase of her order. • The department focused on the proliferation of fake guns used in the commission of criminal offenses in 2017. The department recorded a total of 39 cases where a fake gun or BB/Airsoft-style gun was used. • In May, Police Chief Will Johnson testified at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Hearing in Washington D.C. on the broad impacts that hate crimes have within communities. Chief Johnson told the congressional panel that both police and victims need better training and education on the importance of collecting and reporting hate crimes and incidents. 20 Annual Report 2017