Waco PD on the BEAT

Betty Beard with the Parents Against Crime Coalition joins us to talk what she is doing from the community side in reducing gun violence and crime within the City of Waco. Then, Sergeant Cassie Price with the Gang Unit for the Waco Police Department speaks on the targeted operations as we're on track to seizing more illegal firearms than last year and have already surpassed the numbers from 2020. This episode will bring advice on what we all can do to reduce crime in our city. 

Almost every neighborhood has an active neighborhood association to help keep their neighborhoods a safe place to live. Terry Williams, who is part of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association and President of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association, talks about from a community member's point of view how you can stand up aginst crime and help the Waco Police Department keep our city safe. With the help from the Neighborhood Engagement Team, officers in that unit meet with their assigned Neighborhood Association to talk about the rise in crime specific to that area. 

The Waco Police Department has continued to see growing gun violence and gun related crime in our city. This episode is a replay of Episode 17 where Assistant Chief Frank Gentsch sat down to speak about the problem we were already seeing rise and what we can all do to stop it. The tragic death of a 22-month-old girl has caused heartbreak within our community and it's time we all work together to make a difference. Police Chief Sheryl Victorian also provides a statement asking for your help. 

***Disclaimer*** 

Crime Stats mentioned in the replay of the podcast episode will be outdated as it is a previous recording from January. For updated crime stats please visit WacoPolice.com. 

Manny and Abraham Esqueda are still rookies at the Waco Police Department, starting early 2021 they wanted to join the force together. Being brothers they feel blessed to be able to work together and do what they love most which is keeping Waco safe. With about a year and half at the department they're happy to tell you what it's been like being a new police officer with Waco PD. 

Community/Relational Policing has been a new word in everyone's vocabulary. Commander Jared Wallace of the Community Serives Division sits down with us to talk about what Relational Policing, how our officers are implementing that in their daily work and why it's so important as we move forward to a safer community. 

The WCPAAA stands for the Waco Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. This program is designed to give citizens a working knowledge of the Waco Police Department and raises citizens awareness. We sit down with two of the most recent WCPAAA members to get their insght on the benefits it was to go through this academy. To learn more about the WCPAAA visit the Waco Police Department's website.

One of the most popular units at the Police Department is the K9 Unit. These officers are partnered with dogs (or what we call K9's) to work with them each day to help detain bad guys, drugs or guns. What some might not know is they also do something called Friendly Tracks to help locate missing children or other people in the community. These dogs provide great protection to the community, our officers and so many more. K9 Officer Vern Darlington sits down with Waco PD on the BEAT hosts to talk about how these K9's are doing a job well done.  

Officer Anita Gomez began her career in Kansas, eventually making her way to the Waco Police Department. She grew up wanting to becoming a police officer even though she didn't know any officers growing up. Wanting to create a better life for herself and her family the single mom eventually made the leap and it was the best decision she could have made. 

Here at the Waco Police Department, we have dedicated volunteers called Police Chaplains. These men and women are led by Faith and are here for the officers, support staff and the community. Just a few duties include, visit sick and injured Police personnel in the hospital or home, counsel with officers and other personnel having personal problems at their request, and participate in in-service training classes. Chaplain Richard Thompson III has volunteered fo Waco PD since 2020 and he explains what called him to do such an important job.