by media | Sep 8, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
Pharr PD Mental Health Unit to Host 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Fair on Friday, 9/9 @ 7pm
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr and the Pharr PD Mental Health Unit will be hosting the 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Fair with the theme “Stick by Me” to bring awareness and local organizations together to provide information to the community.
The event will take place on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 7 pm – 9 pm at the Pharr Vanguard Academy Nature & Birding Center (1025 S. Richmond Dr.) in Pharr.
“Everyone is invited to join us as we work together to advocate for Mental Health Awareness during this fun family-friendly event,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “I’m proud to see the great work our Pharr PD Mental Health Unit is doing in advocating for awareness and bringing our local organizations together with our community to educate everyone on the services and assistance that are available to address mental health,” he added.
The event will feature mental health booths, a glow stick vigil, speakers, testimony, and a walk. For more information, contact Officer N. Zepeda at [email protected].
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: Pharr PD Mental Health Unit to Host 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Fair
WHEN: Friday, September 9, 2022, from 7 pm – 9 pm
WHERE: Pharr Vanguard Academy Nature & Birding Center (1025 S. Richmond Dr., Pharr, TX 78577)
MEDIA ADVISORY
Media Contact: Yuri Gonzalez
Phone: (956) 310-2139
Email: [email protected]
by media | Sep 8, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
City Proclaims September 2022 as Deaf Awareness Month
Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., and the Pharr City Commission approved a proclamation declaring September 2022 as Deaf Awareness Month in Pharr. Deaf Awareness Month increases public awareness by promoting equal access to information and services for Deaf individuals, educating the public about the types of educational programs, support services, and resources available, and continuing the work of advocating for the rights of Deaf people everywhere. The Pharr City Commission presented a proclamation to Marla Martinez who works with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center in Pharr. The center serves the deaf community in Hidalgo County by providing professional services, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting and classes, among other services.
City Proclaims the 21st Anniversary of September 11, 2001
The Pharr City Commission approved a proclamation declaring September 11, 2022, as “Remembering and Honoring the 21st Anniversary of September 11th at Vanguard Academy” day. The City of Pharr and Vanguard Academy will join together to honor individuals and families who were directly affected by the September 11, 2001 tragedy as well as to honor and recognize local heroes who contributed to improving the quality of life for everyone here at home. Rey Perez, a history professor at Vanguard Academy, and members of the Student Council, LEO’s Club, and school administration accepted the proclamation.
City Commission Accepts Resignation of City Manager Andy Harvey
The Pharr City Commission accepted the resignation of Andy Harvey who served as both the City Manager and Chief of Police for the City of Pharr. Harvey will continue to serve the city in his position as Chief of Police. “It has been a privilege to be your city manager the last few months and I appreciate all the support,” said Chief Andy Harvey. “I thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to continuing my work at the Pharr Police Department as the Chief of Police,” added Harvey. “That is where my heart is and I am committed to continuing building upon the great work we have accomplished so far,” he added. “We thank you for your service Chief and for serving our community these past few months as City Manager,” said Mayor Hernandez. “You have excelled as our Police Chief and have made it a premier department and we look forward to your work and contributions to our Pharr community,” said Hernandez.
City Commission Appoints Anali Alanis as Interim City Manager
The Pharr City Commission appointed Anali Alanis, who currently serves as the Pharr Assistant City Manager as the Interim City Manager.
Commission Approves Agreement with Workforce Solutions for the Texas Internship Initiative Program
The Pharr City Commission approved an agreement with Workforce Solutions for the Texas Internship Initiative Program. The City of Pharr IT Department will partner with Workforce Solutions to participate in the Texas Internship Initiative Program. This is a non-financial cooperative agreement. The grant is offered by Workforce Solution and places qualified Vanguard Academy High School students on paid internships with employers.
Featured Event: 16 de Septiembre Celebration – Friday, September 16, 2022, from 6 pm to 10 pm
Reminder
September 16TH 
is right around the corner and we can’t wait to celebrate!
Don’t forget to join us at Jones Box Park from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm to celebrate with live music, folkloric dancers, and much more!
Los esperamos este 16 de Septiembre para celebrar una noche de “Fiestas Patrias” un grito tradicional, comida muy mexicana y música en-vivo!
La celebración se llevará acabo el viernes 16 de Septiembre en el parque Jones Box en el Sur de Pharr de 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
by media | Aug 19, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police News
Pharr Hosts Sen. Cornyn for Mental Health Roundtable Discussion & Press Conference
Pharr, Texas – City of Pharr leaders were excited to host U.S. Senator John Cornyn at a roundtable discussion on local Mental Health initiatives and federal legislation with regional leaders and law enforcement agencies. Pharr city commissioners welcomed Cornyn and individuals representing collaborative agencies including Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office, DHR Health Behavioral Hospital, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, among others.
Cornyn opened the discussion by providing attendees with an overview of the importance of mental health treatment for local communities, especially in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Cornyn lauded his efforts to pass key legislation in the U.S. Senate for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022. The legislation reauthorizes expiring programs under this initiative and also expands the use of multi-disciplinary response teams and provides resources and mental health training for law enforcement officers. The Act also enhances access to mental health services.
“We appreciate Senator Cornyn’s efforts to promote and support mental health legislation through which innovative and collaborative programs like the Mental Health Unit are made possible, and we are seeing a direct impact on our community,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “This type of compassionate intervention that they provide is working to save lives, and we are so proud of the work that the Mental Health Unit is doing in our city for our residents,” Hernandez added.
Pharr City Commissioners and City Manager/Police Chief Andy Harvey provided Cornyn with an overview of Pharr’s innovative Mental Health Unit. The Unit, founded in 2020 through a collaborative initiative between the Pharr Police Department and Tropical Texas Behavioral Health, utilizes trained mental health officers and a clinician to respond to incidents where an individual may be experiencing a mental health crisis and get them the help they need. The Unit was recently awarded a $550,000 grant by the U. S. Department of Justice to expand its services and was recognized earlier this year as “Organization of the Year” by the Texas Crisis Intervention Team Association.
The visit included a brief and intimate testimonial by an individual who was helped by the Mental Health Unit, and he thanked them for changing his life after experiencing a crisis. He now has a steady job and credits the Unit for helping him through his situation. At a press conference after the roundtable, Cornyn remarked, “If we can get people the help they need and access to that care, that protects them from being a danger to themselves or others as well.”
“The challenge of mental health affects every family in America,” Cornyn continued. “I’m so happy to be here in Pharr and to hold this up as a great example of what can be duplicated in other parts of the state and other parts of the country,” Cornyn added.
Pharr Commissioner Ricardo Medina, Senator John Cornyn, and Pharr Commissioner Ramiro Caballero
(l-r) Pharr Assistant Chief of Police Joel Robles, City Manager/Police Chief Andy Harvey, and Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Chief Operating Officer Mike Taylor
MEDIA ADVISORY
Media Contact: Yuri Gonzalez
Phone: (956) 310-2139
Email: [email protected]
by media | Aug 17, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police News
City of Pharr and Sen. Cornyn to Host Discussion on Mental Health this Thursday, 8/18 @ 10:30 am
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr and U.S. Senator John Cornyn will host a roundtable discussion on local Mental Health initiatives and federal legislation with regional leaders and law enforcement agencies.
The event will take place at 10:30 am this Thursday, August 18, 2022, at the Pharr ONE Northside Center (1121 East Nolana Loop) in Pharr.
All media are invited to attend.
Please see the Media Advisory released from Senator Cornyn’s office below for more information.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Media Contact: Yuri Gonzalez
Phone: (956) 310-2139
Email: [email protected]
by media | Aug 3, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
Pharr City Manager Chief Andy Harvey Named New LEITF Co-chair
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr is proud to announce that earlier today, the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) named City Manager Chief Andy Harvey as the new LEITF Co-chair.
The announcement was made in the following press release:
Chief Andy Harvey Named New LEITF Co-chair
PHARR, TEXAS — Chief Andy Harvey of Pharr, Texas — on the border with Reynosa, Mexico — is a new co-chair of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force.
Harvey currently serves as Police Chief and City Manager of Pharr and has been outspoken about the need for better border and immigration policies, including in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee about policing and immigration in 2019.
He assumes his leadership role at a pivotal moment for border and immigration reforms. In polling earlier this year, about 4 in 5 respondents said they would support “Republicans and Democrats working together on immigration reforms that strengthen border security, create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, and ensure a legal, reliable workforce for America’s farmers and ranchers.”
“What’s actually occurring in our local communities is important to the larger conversation surrounding immigration. We are all less safe without commonsense immigration reforms and practical, effective border security. Let’s work together to make our nation safer,” said Chief Andy Harvey of Pharr, Texas.
“Chief Harvey’s more than 26 years of public service and leadership experience, spanning positions in law enforcement, the military, and city government, as well as his expertise in immigration are welcome assets as he joins the task force’s leadership,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez of Harris County, Texas.
Chief Harvey’s fellow co-chairs are Sheriff Ed Gonzalez (Harris County, Texas) and Sheriff Margaret Mims (Fresno County, California).
View the release in its entirety here: https://leitf.org/[2022][08][harveycochair][].
by media | Aug 2, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News
REMINDER – City of Pharr to Host Pharr Night Out TODAY, Tuesday, 8/2 @ 5pm
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr and the Pharr Police Department will be hosting Pharr Night Out in celebration of building police and community partnerships to prevent crime.
The event will take place TODAY, Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 5 pm – 10 pm at the Pharr Aquatic Center (1000 Fir St.) in Pharr.
“This event is a celebration of our community partnerships and our emphasis on building healthy community relationships with our police department,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “The City of Pharr is proud of the partnerships our Pharr Police Department continues to foster with the community, local agencies, and organizations,” he added. “We invite everyone to join us for an evening of family fun, and activities,” said Hernandez.
“We believe in lifting our city,” Chief Andy Harvey said. “Adding value to our kiddos is one way we do that. This is true community in action.”
Pharr Night Out is a family-friendly event for the entire community! The parking area will be filled with vendors who will be giving away school supplies and other goodies. Make plans to join us, have a good time, and BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS!
Parking will be available at the PSJA Stadium and Liberty Middle School. Guests with bracelets will be allowed into the Aquatic Park, in 2-hour increments, due to space regulations.
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: Pharr Night Out
WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, August 2, 2022 from 5 pm – 10 pm
WHERE: Pharr Aquatic Center (1000 Fir St., Pharr, TX 78577)
