FY 2013 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2013 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 10

Neighborhoods

A

ctive and engaged departments
such as Police, Fire, Parks and
Recreation, and Libraries
contributed new and continually
improving programs that benefitted
Arlington residents in FY 2013.
Additional initiatives to aid youth and
ease navigation throughout downtown
also added to the quality of life.

10

Public Safety
Through the efforts of the Arlington
Police Department (APD), incidents
of crime decreased for the fourth
consecutive year with violent and
property crime numbers reduced by
26.3% from 2009-2013. The City’s
total crime rate is down 44% since
1985. The department continued its
community policing model and built on
local partnerships by volunteering and
working with schools.
Police Chief Will Johnson was
awarded the 2013 Gary P. Hayes
Memorial Award from the Police
Executive Research Forum for his
leadership skills, commitment to the
profession and character.
Also in FY 2013, the APD
expanded its already active social
media presence and was recognized
with multiple awards and distinctions.
The department was chosen to teach
about the topic at the International
Association of Chiefs of Police. The
department also launched “Inside
APD,” a biweekly video program
aired on YouTube and the City’s cable
channel. The program was awarded the
Most Innovative Use of Social Media
by the Center for Digital Government.
A cardiac arrest survival program
called CPaRlington that was started
a decade ago paid off big dividends
for the City in April of 2013. In one
day, rescuers saved the lives of three
individuals suffering from cardiac
arrest. In all of those cases, bystanders

initiated CPR. More than 43,000
people have received the life-saving
training, which calls for beginning
chest compressions and defibrillation
within three to five minutes of cardiac
arrest to significantly increase chances
of survival. Arlington is consistently
ranked high in heart attack survivability
compared to other United States cities.
The Arlington Independent School
District Fire Academy graduated its
first class in 2013. The ceremony
marked the end of a rigorous two-year
program for 16 students who passed
an initial application and interview
process then completed the fire service
training while still attending high school
and meeting grade requirements. The
program, in which members of the
Arlington Fire Department (AFD) serve
as certified instructors, is a partnership
between the AISD, the AFD and the
Tarrant County College District.
Outdoors
The Parks & Recreation
Department continued to grow its
brand and improve on its popular
festivals while opening two new
innovative facilities.
Naturallyfun.org, the department’s
redesigned website, now features
simplified navigation, an interactive
map and a park finder. Naturally