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Sunnyvale Police reaccredited; council accepts annual racial-profiling report
Summary
The Town Council received life-saving awards and a promotion in the police department, heard that the department earned reaccreditation from the Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, and approved the town's annual racial-profiling report with no findings of concern.
The Sunnyvale Police Department received formal recognition from the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA) and presented lifesaving awards to three officers on June 9, as the Town Council also accepted the department's annual racial-profiling report.
Chief Bill Vegas described promotions and lifesaving awards: Lieutenant Dylan Stovall was promoted following an April assessment center and pinning ceremony, and officers Portillo, White and Blunt received life-saving awards for their April 9 response at Kearney's restaurant in which they provided CPR and Narcan before medics arrived.
Tom Bridal of Cooksey Communication and others also presented awards to town communications staff for the Sunnyvale Review and the State of the Town video at the meeting.
The council reviewed the department's racial-profiling report for 2024, prepared with data submitted to Dr. Del Carmen. Town Manager Jeff Jones summarized the findings before Chief Vegas addressed the council: "We're pleased to report there's been no findings of significance," Jones said. Chief Vegas said the department conducts additional internal checks, uses video review, and that traffic enforcement focuses heavily on cut-through traffic rather than residents.
Council member follow-up questions noted that citation counts by race might appear disproportionate given Sunnyvale's demographic profile, but staff and the department emphasized that a large portion of traffic stops involve non-resident cut-through drivers. Councilmember Woodrow moved to approve the report as a consent-item pull; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Danny and passed 6-0.
Separately, the department received formal reaccreditation through TPCA's Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program; a TPCA representative told the council the department met 173 policy standards and that reaccreditation is awarded after a multi-year review, on-site assessment and committee review. Chief Vegas credited accreditation manager Angie Webb and department staff for the work required to maintain standards.
No policy changes or disciplinary actions were reported at the meeting; council discussion focused on transparency of the report and the department's training and oversight practices.
