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Plainview Police report cites staffing shortfalls and rising property crime
Summary
Capt. Gabriel Carrillo and Chief Watson told council the department is authorized for 34 officers but averaged about 29 in 2025; officials linked pay and retention issues to increases in property crime and described policies limiting pursuits to violent felonies.
Captain Gabriel Carrillo presented the Plainview Police Department’s annual overview, reporting the department is authorized for 34 full‑time officers but averaged about 29 in 2025, with two cadets in the academy and additional staff vacancies. Carrillo said the department recorded about 2,431 incidents for 2025 and 7,239 traffic stops, and outlined specialized units including CID investigators, a narcotics investigator, mental-health officers, crisis negotiators and SWAT volunteers.
Chief Watson and another senior officer described staffing and retention challenges, linking pay disparities to departures and noting operational impacts. Chief Watson said the department’s pay is noncompetitive and cited an example of an officer leaving for a $20,000–$24,000 pay increase at another agency. On pursuits, staff described a policy change to limit pursuits to violent felonies to reduce public risk. “When we're fully staffed, we're at a ratio of 1.7 officers per 1,000 residents,” one speaker said; officials told council they would request additional positions during the budget process to maintain effective patrol coverage.
