Richardson Police Department (RPD) Chief Gary Tittle gave his department’s End of Year Review for 2022 at Monday’s City Council work session, including a look at recruitment and staffing, new crime fighting and safety strategies/initiatives, community relations and crime statistics.
While total violent crime was down 2.4 percent compared to 2021, total property theft was up 6.5 percent, in large part due to auto theft (up 31.4 percent) and “Theft of Vehicle Parts” (up 23.7 percent due primarily to thefts of catalytic converters). Chief Tittle reported that 23 percent of all stolen vehicles had the keys inside or close by. Catalytic converter theft continues to plague communities nationwide and the RPD has been proactive in developing new ways to battle the issue, including utilizing new technology and assisting a federal investigation in the Dallas area in 2022, which helped to dismantle a nationwide catalytic converter theft network.
Other highlights of Monday’s presentation included:
- The RPD’s Crisis Intervention Team, a partnership with Methodist Richardson Medical Center (MRMC), marked two years in 2022 and continues to thrive, with a year-to-year reduction (@ 10 percent) in mental health-related apprehensions, a goal of the program. In 2022, MRMC staff worked with RPD in more than 1,400 crisis phone calls, 67 home visits, and provided 298 resources to individuals and families.
- RPD began the Homeless Engagement and Liaison Program in 2022, which works with City and community groups in providing resources to the homeless and in cleaning up encampments.
The RPD’s Youth Citizen’s Police Academy doubled its attendance in 2022.
Video: March 20 presentation
