New bike patrols roll out in Near South, Stockyards

New bike patrols roll out in Near South, Stockyards

Published on October 18, 2024

New bike patrols in two busy entertainment districts have been funded in the Fiscal Year 2025 Crime Control & Prevention District budget to help keep Fort Worth safe.

• Magnolia Street bike team: Two officers have been budgeted for this southside area that continues to attract restaurant, retail and nightclub activity. The budget includes $413,418 for personnel and equipment. This patrol will include at least two officers and will target peak business hours. By flexing patrol times, officers can address crime trends and times where calls for service are spiking.
• Stockyards bike team: Similarly, this tourist area on the Northside received a two-member bike team for patrols at a cost of $413,418 for personnel and equipment.

The bike patrols will increase police presence and visibility in these areas. Officers will respond to calls for service and address violations they observe. They will also respond to requests for extra patrols at locations in need.

In the Police Department's Central Division, bike patrols began in the Magnolia/Hemphill area about four weeks ago in anticipation of this budget update. Already, officers have received positive feedback from community members and business owners. Most have stated that the bike officers are making a difference in reducing problems in the area.

The best way to contact the bike officers is by contacting 911 for emergency service or through a neighborhood police officer for nonemergency requests.

Fort Worth's other entertainment districts - West 7th and Downtown - already had full bike units on patrol.

Measure of success: To determine the success of the new bike patrols, PD will analyze crime statistics and complaints generated in these areas. Neighborhood police officers will be meeting with the business community to assess their satisfaction and overall feeling of safety.

CCPD background: The CCPD fund supplements the Police Department budget to fight and prevent crime. The CCPD, approved by voters in 1995, receives a half-cent of the City's sales tax. In 2020, voters renewed the district for 10 years. The CCPD budget for the current fiscal year is $127.5 million, which when combined with the Police Department's General Fund budget of $335.7 million, provides $461.8 million to keep Fort Worth safe.

Photo:Bike patrols will make the popular Fort Worth Stockyards even safer as the entertainment district prepares to nearly double in size.

Tagged as:

• Community Safety
• District 2
• District 9