Richardson Police Adding 'Public Safety' Officers To Improve Response Times & Lower Crime
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RICHARDSON (CBS11) - In the midst of an emergency, seconds can feel like forever—and fast is never fast enough. Just ask Denise Volpebinion of Richardson.
"Oh,yeah, my neighbor's house was being robbed—they were inside!" recalls Volpebinion. "And her father actually got here from Garland before the police made it here. It was scary, because I could hear them inside and I was banging, trying to get them to come out and we were waiting…waiting for the police to come."
That was several years ago. Still, the Richardson Mom and became downright giddy when she heard about the police department's plan to add 'public safety officers' to help improve response times.
"I think it's fantastic!" exclaimed Volpebinion—while joking with other Moms about the pride they all take in watching out for each other in the neighborhood. "We have to stick together."
"We're always looking at response," says Richardson Police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Perlich, "always trying to get there as quickly as possible." According to Sgt. Perlich, the public safety officers will help with stranded motorists, traffic hazards, and take reports on cases like burglaries where the suspects are no longer present… situations where "a regular uniformed office wouldn't necessarily be needed." The department hopes having the public safety officers respond to non-emergency situations will free up uniformed officers and allow them to respond to priority calls faster.
"Let's put it in action and see what happens," says Brenda Rankin, "I'm hoping it will be a good plan. If it works, it will be wonderful."
These public safety officers will drive pickup trucks instead of patrol cars, their uniforms are light blue (police officers wear navy) and they will not be armed. Still, Richardson police brass believes that they will still help officers fight crime.
"This is one of those steps that we hope will free up officers to allow them to focus their efforts on those parts of town where there's more likelihood of crime being committed, and you can saturate that part of the city with sworn officers."
Both Rankin and Volpebinion are active in their Richardson neighborhoods and believe that having more officers on the streets—whether in pickup trucks or patrol cars—will benefit the community.
"I love the idea!" says Volpebinion, adding with a laugh "maybe we should volunteer and go work with them!"
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