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Pampa police report: index crimes and crashes fall; department cites staffing shifts and improved response times
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Summary
Police Chief Richburg told the commission the department saw declines in index crimes, arrests and motor vehicle crashes last year; staff shortages depressed some activity counts but response times and use-of-force metrics improved, he said.
Chief Richburg presented the Pampa Police Department’s annual report and credited officers and community partners for an overall decline in crime.
“We were a 106 arrests fewer than the year before,” Chief Richburg said, adding that department reports showed 3,672 traffic stops with a racial breakdown roughly matching local demographics. He told the commission index crimes were down by about 102 incidents compared with the prior year and that motor vehicle crashes dropped below 200 for the first time he could recall.
Richburg attributed part of the decline in calls for service and citations to being shorthanded earlier in the year: when officers are covering priority calls, he said, there is less time for field-generated enforcement. He also reported improvements in average response times and lower use-of-force incidents, citing reductions in physical-control and Taser deployments.
On pursuits he said the department logged 11 last year with no injuries and only two officer accidents reported; supervisors called off at least one pursuit they judged too dangerous. Richburg also highlighted accreditation continuity through the Texas Police Chiefs Association and noted training expansions made possible by an in-house TECO training provider license.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about divisions and staffing; Richburg named lieutenants and supervisors overseeing patrol, investigations and support services and said those units were returning to full staffing.
The presentation concluded without formal action; commissioners thanked the chief for the report and acknowledged the department’s work during last week’s severe winter storm.
