by media | Apr 22, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
Pharr Appoints Chief Andy Harvey as City Manager
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.
by media | Apr 8, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
Contact: Officer Irving Segura
Phone: 956-467-7016
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.
Media is invited to attend.
by media | Mar 29, 2022 | Featured News, Information, Live, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
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.
Media is invited to attend.
by media | Mar 15, 2022 | Court Department, Featured News, Information, Media Releases, My Pharr, News, News, Police Department, Police News
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.
by media | Nov 19, 2021 | Media Releases, Police News
POLICE BULLETIN: Subject Arrested for Burglary of Vehicle and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
The City of Pharr Police Department reports that an 18-year-old male subject by the name of Miguel Marroquin was arrested on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, and charged with burglary of a vehicle and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Incident Details
On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, around 1 pm, a Pharr Police Patrol Officer was on patrol and was waved down by a victim who reported that he was following the subject who he had just witnessed breaking into his vehicle at the 900 Block of S. Palm Drive. The victim observed the subject inside his vehicle and proceeded to follow him until he was able to wave down the officer. The subject was arrested and charged with burglary of a vehicle and engaging in organized criminal activity. He was arraigned before the Pharr Municipal Court on Thursday, November 18, 2021. The subject is a confirmed gang member. Cash taken by the subject from the victim’s vehicle was recovered and released back to the victim.
Pharr Police remind all citizens to report any criminal activity to Pharr Crime Stoppers at (956) 787-TIPS.
by media | Jul 20, 2021 | Featured News, News, Police News
Pharr Police Respond to Crisis Incident
On Friday July 16th, 2021, at around 10:20 P.M. Pharr Police Officers were dispatched to the 3100 block of North Sugar Road, to a canal bank regarding a 36-year-old female in crisis locked inside her vehicle with a handgun. The call was made to 911 by her family members.
Officers found the vehicle on the South side of the canal bank facing West bound towards Sugar Road. Officers observed the female inside the vehicle with the handgun pointed towards her head and were able to confirm that she was alone.
Officers immediately backed off, established a perimeter and requested our Crisis Negotiation Unit, Special Response Team, and Mental Health Unit.
At around 12:00 A.M. the female fired a single shot out of her window into the air. Negotiators were able to establish communication with the female and attempted to deescalate the situation for multiple hours.
At around 1:45 A.M., the female stopped communications with our Negotiation Unit. Our team had information that she was harming herself, so the Special Response Team acted and found the female with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Emergency care was provided to her and she was transported to Doctors Hospital at Renaissance where she was pronounced deceased.
The Texas Rangers will be the lead investigation agency for this incident.
Our collective hearts go to out to the victim’s family during this difficult time. Further details will be made available at a later time.
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