APD Annual Reports - 2019 Annual Report | Page 4

Mayor’s Message Arlington has closed out 2019 and is marching forward with continued progress and prosperity in 2020. Everywhere you turn, Arlington is growing with positive momentum. It’s an exciting day to be a part of the American Dream City. One of our primary goals is maintaining a healthy city where people feel safe and want to come to Arlington. This is where public safety comes in and we have the best police department in the nation for this job. I travel all over the country and I am always amazed how forward leaning and progressive our police department is. Our Police Chief is a leader on the national stage in many areas and other law enforcement agencies try to emulate what we do best here in Arlington. As part of my kindness campaign, I always look for stories of compassion and there certainly was no shortage from the police department last year. Our workforce really cares about all of our citizens and it shows through their actions. From officers buying meals for complete strangers, to our Santa Cops program which gives so much to the community, to acts of compassion shown to those who need it most, the Arlington Police Department continually positions itself to make our city better. On behalf of the Arlington City Council and your Mayor, I want to be the first to thank you for your continued partnership and dialogue on public safety. We are committed to ensuring all of our First Responders are the best equipped and trained anywhere in the world. Take the time to learn more about what our police department has to offer and how you can become involved in building a stronger community. Together, we can all make a positive difference in the American Dream City. W. Jeff Williams Mayor 04 | 2019 Annual Report