Pharr Police Department Mental Health Unit Awarded Organization of the Year by Texas CIT Association
City management congratulates the Pharr Police Mental Health unit for their recent recognition as the “Organization of the Year.” They received the distinction at the CIT Association’s Annual Conference. We are Team Pharr.
Pharr, Texas – The Pharr Police Department’s Mental Health Unit was awarded “Organization of the Year” by the Texas Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Association at its annual conference held this past weekend. The recognition is a well-deserved honor for the members of Pharr’s Mental Health Unit for the work it is doing to provide specialized police responses to individuals with mental illness or who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
“We are seeing the positive impact that the Mental Health Unit is directly having in our community, and to be recognized by a statewide association that focuses specifically on the relationship between law enforcement and behavioral health is a great honor,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “We want to congratulate the members of the team on this notable distinction, and look forward to continuing to implement innovative community policing efforts such as this to benefit the public safety and wellbeing of our community,” he added.
Pharr’s Mental Health Unit was created in December 2020 to help educate officers about how to respond to cases in which a person is experiencing a mental health crisis. The goal of the unit was to improve policing and train officers to respond appropriately to such scenarios without having to resort to excessive use of force or jail time. The Unit has partnered with the local mental health authority, Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, and was recently awarded a $550,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Justice to continue its efforts.
The Texas CIT Association is a non-profit organization comprised of law enforcement, corrections, the mental health community, and advocacy groups to provide standardized training, support, and education in responding to those affected by mental illness and/or those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
“The goal of the unit is to provide resources for people in crisis and provide them the help they really need first,” stated Police Chief Andy Harvey.
“We are honored to have been awarded this recognition by this network of our peers in the field across the state who understand the importance of having this specialized Mental Health Unit, which has helped to de-escalate situations and ultimately, save lives,” Harvey added.
Pharr, Texas – There’s a new city manager in Pharr, and he is a familiar face. Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. and the City of Pharr are pleased to announce the appointment of Police Chief Andy Harvey as the city’s new City Manager. With his extensive leadership experience and background in public service management, Harvey is uniquely poised to transition into this new role. Harvey will remain Chief of Police as well.
“Having served for more than 26 years in local government has prepared me for this important leadership role of city manager,” said Harvey. “I am humbled by the opportunity and trust afforded to me by Mayor Hernandez and our Commission to lead the men and women that care for and serve our city every day,” Harvey continued. “Our future is bright and can’t wait to get going,” Harvey added.
“Chief Harvey is a progressive leader with innovative ideas and a proven track record of success, qualities that align perfectly with our vision to keep moving Pharr forward,” said Mayor Hernandez. “We are proud that he is taking on this new role as City Manager to continue steering Pharr in the right direction – towards the future,” Hernandez added.
Since becoming the Pharr Police Chief in July 2020, Harvey’s innovation and leadership has propelled the agency into a future-focused, 21st century police department. Under Harvey’s watch, the department added the first-ever Mental Health Unit and Horse Mounted Unit in the region, expanded the community outreach, and added a Motorcycle Unit to the fleet. The department has increased transparency by working with local media, enhancing our social media platforms, and recently aired the first-of-its-kind police department podcast called Police On Air.
Harvey’s leadership experience covers both military and law enforcement professions. After a distinguished military career with over 20 years of service, Harvey retired as the First Sergeant of the 136th Mission Support Group in Ft. Worth, Texas. Harvey led in crisis on two different occasions; in Kuwait at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in New Orleans just days after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. During his enlistment, Harvey attended several Air Force academies, including the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy and the First Sergeant Academy where he earned the Distinguished Graduate Award and the coveted Commandant’s Leadership Award, respectively.
Harvey also retired from the Dallas Police Department in 2017. His leadership assignments include patrol, investigations, community policing, and media relations. As a Patrol Watch Commander, Harvey implemented a policing model that places high value in team members’ contributions, promotes problem-solving, excellent customer service, a heightened sense of responsibility, and in developing team members to understand the big picture.
As the Dallas Police Media Relations Commander, Harvey implemented several programs including the creation of social networking services and a web video series called First Watch, both in English and Spanish. Harvey has been interviewed frequently on local and national news programs.
Harvey graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Command College in Huntsville, Texas, the Caruth Police Institute in Dallas, Texas, and ILEA Police School of Supervision in Plano, Texas.
Harvey champions community policing having authored a book titled Excellence in Policing which has been presented to and read by police of all ranks around the country. In November of 2019, Harvey testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about immigration and policing.
Pharr Police Department Mounted Patrol Stables
Phone: 956-402-4863
MEDIA ADVISORY – Mounted Unit Patrolling Pharr Neighborhoods TODAY at 10 am
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr Police Department is pleased to announce that its Mounted Unit will be patrolling Pharr neighborhoods THIS MORNING at 10:00 a.m. Interested media is invited to come out and meet our officers and horses, Bullseye and Bandit. The Mounted Unit will be at the Grand Estates located at Sam Houston and Flag Street in Pharr beginning at 10 am.
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr Police Department cordially invites all media to meet our newest addition to our mental health unit, Ammo. Ammo is part German Shepherd and part Malinois and has been training for the last month to be an emotional support dog not only for the police department but also for the entire community.
Interviews and media availability is TODAY from 11 am to 11:30 am with Ammo at the canine training facility, Canines in Action (4501 Rio Grande Care Rd.) in Edinburg.
When Ammo is not in Pharr’s police facility, he will be out in the community at events, at schools, and will help respond to situations of people in crisis.
“There’s something about dogs that lower the emotional temperature in people. Ammo will do that for police officers and those who could use a friend with unconditional love. This is another tool in our commitment to mental wellness in our community,” stated Chief Harvey.
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr announces the Municipal Court Amnesty Period begins TODAY, Tuesday, March 15, 2022, and runs through April 30th. On Monday, March 7, 2022, the Pharr City Commission approved authorization for the Municipal Court of the City of Pharr to hold an amnesty period, during which time any failure to appear and warrant charges will be waived for any unadjudicated fines paid in full.
“We encourage anyone to take advantage of this opportunity to take care of any outstanding fines owed to the municipal court during this amnesty period so that additional fines do not accumulate,” said Pharr Municipal Court Judge Juan Villescas.
Municipal Court hours are from 8 am to 5 pm. For more information, contact 956-402-4690.
Pharr PD Unveils Innovative Policing Strategy, Core Values, and Social Contract Aimed to Foster Positive Community Relations
Pharr, Texas – A few months into his tenure leading the City of Pharr’s police department, Chief Andy Harvey’s priority has been to strategically lead the department’s force by example, modeling a unifying and respectful leadership style to unite the department into implementing systemic and sustainable positive change. With law enforcement across the country recently taking the spotlight in the public realm, leading discussions regarding social justice, criminal justice, and policing, Harvey’s approach aims to shift the paradigm of the relationship between law enforcement and the community by creating a culture of compassion among the city’s police force.
Earlier this week, the Pharr Police Department adopted and celebrated the launch of the department’s new policing strategy, core values, and a social contract that will serve as guiding principles for every decision made by Pharr law enforcement – from administration down to patrol units and community policing.
After months of strategic planning, discussing, and fine-tuning, the Pharr Police Department unveiled its newly-adopted mission, vision, core values, and social contract with the Pharr community.
The adopted core values comprise the department’s C.A.R.E. philosophy, will guide all aspects of individual and collective decisions made as representatives of the Pharr PD, and are as follows:
Compassion: The Pharr Police Department will create partnerships with our community and serve with respect and dignity.
Accountable: Develop community equity and mutual respect while promoting innovation, self-development, and community wellness. We shall enhance and protect the quality of life for all who live, work, or visit the City of Pharr.
Resilient: Develop strategies with stakeholders to address the challenges and demands of our community, while addressing the overall well-being of our officers.
Excellence: We aim for excellence in everything that we do. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct by setting the example and having the moral courage to defend the constitution and uphold the law.
“We know that in order to lift up a city up in the way we police, we must have a strong set of core values. Fairness, dignity, and respect must start from within as part of our guiding principles and culture. Our social contract holds ourselves accountable for our actions and helps us strive for excellence – going above and beyond – in everything we do.” – Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey
Pharr PD’s new mission statement reads, “The Pharr Police Department values the constitutional rights of all people, and will create collaborative relationships built on trust, which will reduce crime, fear, and enhance quality of life.”
The social contract adopted by the police department, the first of its kind in Texas and likely one of the first developed in anticipation of, in response to, and to prevent potential negative public perception of law enforcement agencies, represents the commitment that the department, command staff, officers, investigators, and support staff have to pledged to the community of Pharr, and reads as follows:
“The members of the City of Pharr Police Department agree to be professional, honorable, and supportive in their influences with each other and to our citizens by encouraging a positive, caring environment through valuing the constitutional rights of all people, and creating collaborative relationships built on trust, therefore, reducing crime, fear, and enhancing the quality of life.
The members of the City of Pharr Police Department agree:
To succeed in our mission through our core values: Compassion, Accountability, Resilience, and Excellence; and
To hold ourselves, and each other, accountable and give 100% to our mission; and
In the event of conflict we agree to address issues promptly, discreetly, and one-on-one. We will listen openly, be factual, give feedback, as we seek resolution. We agree to accept responsibility for our actions, be understanding of the other person’s concern, and show compassion for each other; and
To wok together with mutual respect, and if necessary, seek mediation through the chain of command.
The members of the City of Pharr Police Department pledge our support for this social contract and devote our efforts in our daily interactions with our service to the community.”
At the announcement of the new policing strategy and social contract, held on November 10, 2020, members of the Pharr City Commission were on hand to present a proclamation honoring the department’s efforts and recognizing Chief Harvey and the department for their efforts to address challenges and opportunities head-on by adopting this forward-thinking philosophy. Mayor Pro-Tem Bobby Carrillo and Commissioner Daniel Chavez praised the department for rising to the occasion and setting an example to be a model law enforcement agency that will work to proactively address issues and concerns and meet them head-on with a positive attitude and core values that will remain at the forefront of every decision made.
“This is just another way that the City of Pharr is moving forward in a positive way. It takes courage to do what you do. The city of Pharr community can be happy to know that there are police officers with good hearts and good values to keep them safe.” – Commissioner Daniel Chavez
For more information regarding the Pharr Police Department’s new strategy, mission, vision, core values, and social contract, visit https://youtu.be/z_LodTWsUmw.
