NCJ Number
30333
Date Published
1975
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, DATED NOVEMBER 21, 1975, CONTAINS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE MANPOWER UTILIZATION, RECORDS SYSTEM, AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OF THE LOCKHART/ CALDWELL COUNTY POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS.
Abstract
CALDWELL COUNTY IS LOCATED IN SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS, SLIGHTLY EAST OF A LINE DRAWN FROM SAN ANTONIO TO AUSTIN. THE COUNTY POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY 25,000, SPREAD OVER 544 SQUARE MILES. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONSISTS OF THE SHERIFF AND FOUR DEPUTIES. THE CITY OF LOCKHART COVERS APPROXIMATELY FOUR AND ONE-HALF SQUARE MILES AND HAS A POPULATION OF 7,300. THE LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND SEVEN PATROLMEN, THREE OF WHOM ARE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES. AS RECEIVED, THIS REPORT CALLED FOR REVIEW OF TWO AREAS: THE FEASIBILITY OF CENTRALIZING RADIO DISPATCH SERVICES FOR CITY AND COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND THE REVIEW OF A NEW POSITION OF 'POLICE ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR'. HOWEVER, OBSERVATIONS SHOWED THAT COMMUNICATIONS WERE IN EFFECT ALREADY CONSOLIDATED, SINCE THE CITY PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY. THE RECORDS AND REPORTING, RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, MANPOWER, AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES WERE REVIEWED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NEW POSITION OF POLICE ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR WAS NOT FEASIBLE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE WAS OVERBURDENED AND THAT ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL WERE NEEDED. THE REPORT STATES THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL SERVING AS POLICE DISPATCHERS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT AN ORGANIZED RECORDS SYSTEM SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. FINALLY, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OBTAIN A HIGH-SPEED TELETYPE AND THAT THE OFFICE FACILITIES BE REARRANGED.