Press Releases
The San Angelo Police Department has an urgent message for the community. The Department is dealing with an ongoing issue with citizens who are dialing the wrong number when they are in need of non-9-1-1 police response.
The issue stems from citizens attempting to search the internet for the Department's Non-emergency phone number. Most search engines populate alphabetically, and the Police Department's Community Services Division phone number is often the first to appear; however, that number is not to the Dispatch/Communications center and we are concerned that people who are in need of timely police response are not getting the help they need.
We are asking the Citizens of San Angelo to pre-program the Non-Emergency Dispatch phone number to your cell phone and home phone's contact list and/or write it down for future reference. The Non-Emergency Dispatch line, 325-657-4315, is the ONLY number you should dial in the event you need police response that is not a life or death/critical emergency incident. 9-1-1 is to be used ONLY in emergencies that require immediate assistance from the police, fire department, or ambulance.
When seconds matter, being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference but many people question what incidents to consider true 9-1-1 emergencies. Here is what you need to know:
Know WHEN to call 9-1-1. 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. You should only be dialing 9-1-1 if someone is hurt or in danger, or if you are in immediate need of police, fire, or medical assistance. If you aren?t sure if your situation is an emergency, you should err on the side of safety and call 9-1-1 and let the expert who answers your call make the decision whether to send help or not. Here are some examples of when to call 9-1-1: Heart attack or stroke, structure fire, domestic violence, or, anything else that seems like an emergency.
Know WHEN NOT to call 9-1-1. Don?t call 9-1-1 for information, driving directions, when the power is out, to report a broken fire hydrant, to report past thefts or burglaries, when your water pipes burst, to get a ride for a doctor's appointment, for paying tickets, to report animals crossing the street, or as a prank.
So remember, if you are in need of non-life-threatening Police response and get an Officer's direct voicemail after dialing a number you located in an internet search, hang up. Do not leave a message. Chances are the Officer will not hear your message until the next business day.
Please share this message with family, friends, and co-workers. We want our Citizens to be informed and get the help they need when they need it. Navigating the internet while under stress is never a good idea. So please, program 325-657-4315 in your contact list today.
***SAPD***
San Angelo Police Department's K9s Xander, Vader, Thor and Duke Have Been Awarded Bullet and Stab Protective Vests
San Angelo Police Department's K9's Xander, Vader, Thor and Duke have been awarded ballistic vests thanks to non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., and were sponsored by an anonymous sponsor. K9's Xander, Vader, Thor and Duke's vests will be embroidered with the sentiment ?Socius Fidelis?, which is Latin for faithful companion.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA. whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1,550 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.4 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 19 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for law enforcement K9 is $1050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 ? $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
San Angelo Police Service Dog Bios:
K9 Xander is a 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd. He was born in Mexico, and imported to the United States to Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. His human partner is Officer Joel Fincher who has been working in the K9 unit since 2011. Xander is certified in Narcotics, Patrol and Tracking. On Xander's first track for an assault suspect who fled from officers, he located the suspect hiding in a field under a broken down car. He likes kids, neck scratches, tummy rubs, and running circles in the back yard. Xander dislikes being ignored or left alone.
K9 Vader is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois. He is certified through NNDDA (National Narcotic Detector Dog Association) in Narcotics, Patrol, and Tracking. Vader's human partner is Sgt. Chris Cimino who has been working in the K9 unit since May of 2014. Vader is the youngest K9 in the unit. He was purchased and trained at Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas, in January 2015. He has been working the streets with great success since March 2015. In the past six months, he has located three suspects that had fled or were hiding from police and a quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. Vader's absolute favorite thing is to be next to or sitting on his handler. During this summer, Vader attempted to jump in a hammock with his handler but it didn't work out too well for them. Vader also enjoys playing fetch and tug of war with a Kong Wubba. On days off, Vader enjoys going for walks around the neighborhood and park, laying around on the couch, and listening to his handler read stories to his handler's children (Or his kids, depending on which one of them you ask). Vader's favorite work related activity is bite work sessions on training days. He likes doing demonstrations in front of people as he is a bit of a show off. His dislikes include dirty dog food bowls, inconsistency, criminals, and balloons.
K9 Thor is a five-year-old Dutch Shepherd. He was born in Holland and brought to the country to be trained as a Police Service Dog at Hill Country Dog Center Pipe Creek, Texas. Thor's human partner is Officer Jeff Fisher. Thor is certified in Patrol and Narcotics. Thor enjoys his Kong, bite work, traveling on vacations with his handler, getting dirty, rolling around in the grass and he adores his family. Thor does not like hot weather, being sprayed with water (sprinklers), or being petted while he is chewing on his Kong.
K9 Duke is a 5-year-old male Belgian Malinois. Originally from Holland, Duke was imported to Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. Duke's human partner is Officer Brian Gesch. Duke is dual certified in narcotics and patrol. Duke likes playing in the back yard with his Kong, playing fetch, and his favorite work-related job is tracking. He dislikes baths or water in general.
Xander
Vader
Thor
Duke
One man's trashcan is apparently another man's treasure in San Angelo. Police are dealing with a rash of reported thefts of the 96-gallon trash-bins recently issued by Republic Services and it seems thieves are selling them on Craigslist.
And if you think this claim is garbage, look at these statistics:
Stolen Bins:
June 8
July 15
August 9
September 8
Replacing the bins is inconvenient and costly, about $65.00 per bin if a victim fails to file a police report. There are a few steps police suggest you take that can help deter these thefts and assist with the reporting process should you fall victim to this crime.
- Remove the emptied bin from the roadway or alley as soon as possible. Bins left unattended are the easiest to steal.
- Record the trash-bin's unique identification number for future reference. You will need this number in the event you file a police report. Take a photo of the number along with your house number, write it down and keep it in a safe place, or add it to your Citizen Property Inventory System at www.reportit.leadsonline.com (ReportIt is a free service to citizens that uses the same software as the San Angelo Police Department's Pawn Detail).
- Report trash-bin thefts through the San Angelo Police Department's Online Reporting System http://bit.ly/SAPDOnlineReporting. The online reporting service can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any internet-connected computer. Making an online report keeps patrol officers available to respond to emergency calls for service. If you do not have access to the internet, call the Non-Emergency number 325-657-4315.
***SAPD***
Just after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015, San Angelo Police conducted a traffic stop on a white 1999 Cadillac Deville in the area of S. Jackson Street and S. Bryant Blvd. for a traffic violation.
Officer P. Garrett made contact with the driver, identified as Maximino Gonzales Rosales (DOB 07-03-81). During the stop, Officer Garrett learned Rosales was driving without Insurance and a Driver's License.
K9 Handler Officer J. Fisher and his Police Service Dog Thor arrived to assist with the stop and during an exterior ?Sniff? of the vehicle, Thor alerted to the presence of contraband.
Police searched Rosales's car and located suspected narcotics. The substances were subjected to field tests, which showed positive reactions for Methamphetamine weighing approximately 1.9 grams and Heroin weighing approximately 6.7 grams.
Rosales was arrested and charged with Felony 2 Manufacture/Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and Felony 1 Manufacture/Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1. Rosales was issued a Citation for No Proof of Insurance and warnings for Fail to Display a Driver's License and Fail to Signal Intent to Turn.
Rosales was transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident. A 31-year-old male passenger was released at the scene.
There is no further information at this time.
***SAPD***
The San Angelo Police Department would like to remind residents to keep their doors locked and their valuables secured. Many times the crimes of theft and burglary are crimes of opportunity. By simply locking the doors and windows at your residence or your vehicle can drastically reduce the chance of you becoming a victim of these crimes.
Recently there was a note passed out by a resident in the Santa Rita area to the surrounding neighborhoods and on Facebook. The note alerted residents to a recent incident involving a slim white male with a mustache and goatee driving in a white Chevrolet pickup with a grille guard. The male subject knocked on the front door of a residence in the 2400 block of W Avenue K. When there was no response the male subject drove around to the alley and tried entered the yard through the back gate. The male was then confronted by the resident of the house and he stated he was looking for work before leaving prior to Police arrival. The male never made it into the back yard.
It is important to report this type of suspicious behavior. If you see someone who is acting suspicious in your neighborhood, don?t hesitate to contact the Police Department and report the suspicious behavior. This information can potentially lead to suspects being identified and cases being solved.
The non-emergency phone number for Police Dispatch is 657-4315.