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Chief outlines reorganization, increased park patrols and camera use to tackle park issues
Summary
Amarillo's police chief told the parks board the department implemented a reorganization (went live May 28) to put more patrol officers in the field, add a gang unit and sustain traffic enforcement; officers are spending more time in parks and staff and police discussed improved signage, lighting and camera access to support enforcement.
The Amarillo police chief told the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board the department implemented a reorganization designed to put more officers "boots on the ground," to institute a gang unit and to maintain and possibly expand traffic enforcement units that previously operated as a DWI pilot.
"The whole purpose... is bring more, well, simply boots on the ground, having more patrol officers to respond to calls for service and to address some of the challenges that we have now," the chief said, describing a realignment that went live May 28.
The chief said park-related problems such as after-hours gatherings and vehicles driving onto park grass have led officers to increase patrols in large parks and that citations and arrests have followed. He advised that improved signage at park entrances — clearer, larger rule postings and ordinance references — would help officers enforce violations.
Parks staff said they are auditing existing signs, removing faded ones, assigning a staff member to install and update rules and adding lighting in larger parks such as Thompson and JSM. Stowe suggested the police be given a map of lighting controls or a remote login so officers or the crime center could activate lights when needed.
Board members also asked whether parks could be closed after sundown; Stowe said a park curfew ordinance exists and that he believed midnight to be the posted closure time at some parks, though he recommended confirming and posting the information more consistently.
Why this matters: The changes aim to deter vandalism and dangerous activity in city parks by combining targeted patrols, improved signage, additional lighting and camera monitoring. Implementation depends on staff coordination and, in some cases, procedural or technology adjustments to allow remote control or mapping of lighting systems.
The chief encouraged use of video and noted the Amarillo Area Crime Center watches cameras until about 3 a.m., which could help direct officers during incidents. The board thanked the chief for increased patrols and discussed next steps to coordinate signage, lighting maps and enforcement procedures.
