Latest news with #FortWorthPolice
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Fort Worth's police chief reflects as he retires
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes City of Fort Worth After leading the Fort Worth Police Department for four and a half years, Chief Neil Noakes is stepping down, citing a desire to spend more time with family. His departure comes as violent crime in the city continues to decline. Homicides have dropped for three consecutive years, with aggravated assaults and burglaries also down. Noakes credits the success to a flexible crime plan that allowed officers to adapt to real-time trends, along with strong support from city leaders and the community. "I'm happy to say that I'm not leaving because the department is a bad department, or the city is a bad city. There is no better department to work for in the country," Noakes told CBS News Texas. Noakes said the decision to leave was difficult but ultimately driven by family priorities, especially with a second grandchild on the way. Highs and lows Despite the department's progress, Noakes' tenure was not without controversy. In 2023, a high-speed police chase through a residential area ended in the death of an innocent driver. "I'm so sorry it happened," Noakes said. "Any time a life is lost, it's tragic. That shouldn't have happened." Noakes declined to answer questions about the officers' responsibility in the incident, citing advice from city attorneys. Internal records show none of the officers involved in the pursuit faced disciplinary action. Nearly two years after the crash, details of the chase remain undisclosed. Noakes has refused to release the department's full vehicle pursuit policy, despite a directive from the Texas attorney general. "We released most of the policy," he said. "There are some tactics that we use in pursuits that we don't want our criminals to know about. We don't want to broadcast information that could compromise the efforts of these officers, put them in danger, and put citizens in danger because maybe the criminals know our policy so well. And don't think they wouldn't look." The city remains in a legal dispute with the attorney general over the matter. Mental health matters One of Noakes' proudest accomplishments is the department's renewed focus on mental health. "Here's how we dealt with mental health when I started: 'suck it up. There's more calls. Get back out there and do your job,'" Noakes said. "That is not acceptable. That is so tragic that we ever dealt with it that way." Under his leadership, the department launched a wellness unit to support officers and their families. It also introduced the Respond Restore Resolve (R3) initiative, a non-clinical resiliency training program for first responders. "There are things that officers see that no human being should ever have to witness. And the problem is they see it over and over and over again," he said. "What we're doing with R3 is an amazing resiliency training and it's non-clinical in nature, meaning we don't wait until they're broken and then try and fix them." A legacy of service Noakes said he hopes to be remembered as a leader who cared deeply about the department and the community. "I hope they see me as someone who really cared. Not just about city or department, but the people in the city and the people in the department," he said. "Somebody who made mistakes but tried his best. I've always tried to encourage people to be humble, to be servant leaders, and if any of those words are thrown out at some point in the future, I'll be happy with that." Chief Noakes' last day with the Fort Worth Police Department is Saturday.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Portion of southbound I-35W in Fort Worth shut down after fatal crash
A portion of I-35W is shut down Wednesday morning due to a fatal crash. The crash happened at 4:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-35W in Fort Worth near Everman Parkway. According to the Fort Worth Police Department, the crash involved four vehicles. One person died at the scene. There is no information about the condition of other drivers or passengers. Around 7 a.m., traffic was backed up to I-20. This story is developing. Check back for updates.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- CBS News
2 hospitalized after being struck by vehicle in Fort Worth; police searching for suspect
Two people are in the hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Fort Worth, police said. The Fort Worth Police Department said at about 1:35 a.m. on Sunday, officers were called to the intersection of Wichita Street and Knox Street after two people were reported lying in the road. When officers arrived, they found that two victims had been struck by a vehicle, which had fled before officers got there. Police said it's believed that one of the victims was attempting to remove the other from the roadway when they were both struck. Both victims, whose names have not been released, were transported to a hospital with serious injuries. The incident is being investigated by the Fort Worth Traffic Investigation Unit, as officers continue to search for the suspect.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman, 72, recovering after being shot 9 times while sleeping in Fort Worth home
The Brief A 72-year-old Fort Worth woman is recovering in the hospital after being shot multiple times while sleeping in her home early Friday. Her family says she was shot nine times, and the shooter remains at large with no known motive. Fort Worth police's gang unit and gun violence division are investigating, but no arrests have been made yet. FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth woman remains in the hospital after an apparent random shooting early Friday. The 72-year-old's family say she was shot multiple times down her right side, sustaining gunshot wounds to her leg and her arms. The Latest The woman had her fourth surgery on Wednesday, and is alert and talking. The family has faith the suspect will be caught. Rod Smith is shocked and thankful his aunt is alive after he says she was shot nine times while sleeping inside her home. Smith wanted to provide Fox 4 with an update on his aunt's condition, but his family doesn't want the 72-year-old identified since the shooter is still at large. The backstory Video shows broken glass and bullet holes where someone shot into the woman's bedroom. Nearby surveillance footage caught the gunfire echoing through the southwest Fort Worth neighborhood near Brookhaven Trail and Altamesa Boulevard. It happened just after 2 a.m. Friday. The victim's grandson, who also lives there, is the one who called 911. What we don't know Police haven't provided a potential motive, nor have they said whether the home was specifically targeted. What they're saying "Let's rally around, identify this person," said Rod Smith. "Get this person off the street so it doesn't happen to your auntie, your grandmother, your sister. I am willing to do that. I am willing to take that chance." The family is searching for answers as to why the woman was shot. "We don't understand why they went to her bedroom and her house," Smith said. "It's hard to process. Just knowing she was shot, and the person she is," Smith continued. "Not in any trouble, not in any violent thing." Fox 4 reached out to Fort Worth police on Wednesday for any updates on the case. Investigators say there have still been no arrests. Smith is waiting by the phone for any updates, and remains by the side of his aunt as she recovers. What's next The 72-year-old is scheduled for more surgeries. In the last update from the police, they did confirm both the Fort Worth gang unit is handling this investigation and detectives with the gun violence division are also involved. What you can do Anyone with information on Friday's shooting can contact the Fort Worth Police Department at (817) 392-4222. The Source Information in this article came from the family of the shooting victim and the Fort Worth Police Department.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fans wait out rain at Tacos and Tequila Festival
The Brief Attendees at this year's Taco and Tequila Festival had to evacuate because of severe weather Saturday. The event was delayed for around 30 minutes. Attendees said the delay wasn't as bad as waiting to reenter the festival. FORT WORTH, Texas - The Tacos and Tequila Festival was evacuated for about 30 minutes Saturday while a storm moved through the area. Organizers said the safety measures in place worked exactly as planned. Thousands packed Panther Island Pavilion for the fourth annual festival. Organizers kept a close eye on the forecast, as there was potential for severe weather in the area. What they're saying "We actually opened gates a little bit later because we wanted to make sure the site was safe when that storm cell or if any storm cells come through, that we're prepared for them," Social House Senior VP Joshua James said. The evacuation plan was put into motion around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Everyone was asked to evacuate and encouraged to take shelter in their car or under a bridge at a nearby park. Fort Worth Police and the city's emergency management office were at the venue to help. The storm passed within 30 minutes, and people started to line up again, but the gates didn't open right away. High winds stuck around, and there was concern for the stage. When the gates reopened around 7 p.m., people were not allowed near the stage. What they're saying "Some people were agitated, but it is what it is, keep going," Oogande Vassel said. We're here now. The sun is shining, keep going." Vassel took shelter in the parking lot outside the gates and other people in his group went back to the truck to weather the storm. "I work outside for a living, it wasn't that bad," Vassel said. Evacuating because of the storm wasn't a big deal for other festival-goers like Roshanda Dorrough either. It was the waiting to get back in that was the difficult part. "All they said was 'wind hold," but they didn't say they were having trouble with the stage, and they were saying it was going to be like a two-hour wait to get back in," Dorrough said. "And when you've paid that much for a festival, you expect to enjoy it and not sit in line for an hour and a half." Organizers said it's important to have a plan in place for weather during the Texas spring. "It's not fun for people to have to work around weather," James said. "I mean it throws a wrench in everybody's plans and we appreciate everyone just being patient and understanding we are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe and safety is our number one priority." Organizers estimate around 10,000 people came to the festival. The Source Information in this article comes from interviews by FOX 4's Amelia Jones.
