| Steve Mayer Assistant Chief of Police for Harlingen, Texas  We would like to thank Steve for taking time out of his busy schedule to participate in this interview for the readers of www.rgvpride.com. This interview is to help our readers to meet Steve Mayor, understand the viewpoint of working as a police officer and receive some input about the Harlingen Police Department. Why did you originally become a police officer? If you were to ask this question to a brand new officer or to a veteran officer, I think you would be surprised to hear the same answer given at least 90 percent of the time. That answer would be, to help people. Twenty-two years into this career and my answer is the same now as it was the day I got hired, the same as most officers, to help people. What is the most rewarding thing about being in law enforcement? The most gratifying thing about my chosen profession is the enormous sense of fulfillment in going home each day knowing that in some way someone's life was better by something the department did that day. That realization that you gave of yourself to the betterment of those around you in place of selfishly taking from people can be very rewarding. As a police officer, can you describe any situations that have been very memorable in your career? The most unforgettable time of my police career was my leadership position and enforcement efforts for the duration of my time as HPD's gang unit sergeant. At the time Gang violence was taking the very lives of the youth in our community. Furthermore, gang activity was holding quality people hostages in their own neighborhoods. I cannot adequately communicate the honor I felt to direct and labor alongside the high-speed devoted officers of the Gang Eradication Team as we worked for and achieved a 79 percent decrease in gang violence. To witness firsthand the emotional displays of gratitude from members of our community who previously feared gang activity and felt as though they were a prisoner in their own homes yet now could freely come and go or tend to their yards without fear of gang violence will forevermore be something I recall with great affection. Are there any disadvantages related to your line of work? I believe that one can find disadvantages in any line of work and law enforcement is no different. The greatest disadvantage in the field of law enforcement as for me is the amount of time the profession demands from your life if you truly wish to make a positive impact on your community. It’s the amount of time spent away from your family that is the greatest inconvenience. What advice would you give someone who is interested in a career in Law Enforcement? If you are looking to get rich law enforcement might not be the greatest career choice. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a sense of satisfaction that comes from serving people and the excitement of immense bursts of adrenaline law enforcement is your best bet. What are your future career goals? My career goals are to earn a degree in police administration and one day hold the title Chief of Police, Harlingen Police Department. How could citizens / residents form their own Neighborhood Watch programs to cooperate with police? Can they make anonymous reports? We are always eager to facilitate Neighborhood Watch programs. Anyone interested in the creation of a NW program in his or her neighborhood should contact Lt. Anderson at 956-216-5493. Lt. Anderson is more than eager to walk anybody through the steps required to start a program in their neighborhood. Anonymous reports can always be made by calling crime stoppers at 956-425-TIPS. How would you respond to people who say a Neighborhood Watch is useless since Harlingen Police do not respond to all reports? I would have to say that nothing could be farther from the truth. I will say that I recognize there are times when the citizens of this community would have the perception that their police department is not fully engaged in the follow up of Neighborhood Watch tips. It is however important to say that many tips are investigated in a plain clothes, unmarked vehicle type capacity. This method is carried out to verify the information and/or conduct a thorough investigation whereas the criminal element is held accountable for their offenses. As a result of this procedure, a tipster may not be aware of police presence or follow up. We at HPD are in the business of improving the quality of life for the citizens of this community. To facilitate this goal we realize our need of citizen involvement. Only together can we have the greatest impact in reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life for citizens of Harlingen. Some of the residential & business areas recently annexed as Harlingen expanded its city limits are concerned about the coverage or service offered by police and emergency response units (ambulance and fire). How are police and emergency response personnel adjusting their manpower and resources to provide the best possible service to city residents? Well I cannot speak on behalf of ambulance or fire so forgive me if my response is limited to police coverage. Recognizing the need for more officers to engage in preventive patrol and to answer calls for service throughout the city limits, including newly annexed areas the newly hired Chief of Police Tom Whitten have already increased uniform patrol staffing by four officers. This has been accomplished by civilizing positions held by police officers and transferring officers assigned to follow up duties to the frontline. Also new officers are being hired with great efficiency in an ongoing effort to bring the HPD to full staffing. This will, in the end translate to even more officers on the road. As Harlingen grows, what are the long-term plans (10-year plan or 20-year plan) for maintaining and / or IMPROVING police services to the community? Initially our plan is to work towards CALEA certification. We recognize that only the finest police departments in the country are CALEA certified. The law enforcement accreditation program sponsored by CALEA sets various standards that reflect the current thinking and experience of law enforcement practitioners and researchers. CALEA is recognized as the benchmark for professional law enforcement agencies. Through the guidance of CALEA, the HPD will set goals to strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; formalize essential management procedures; establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; improve service delivery; solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and increase community and staff confidence in The Harlingen Police Department. At the same time, our department will succeed in the implementation of the community policing philosophy while remembering that our mission is to provide services with integrity and dedication, to preserve life, to enforce the law, and to work in partnership with the community to enhance the quality of life in the City of Harlingen. -End- You can also read about Valerie Drake D.D.S, and Cindy Hopkins - Real Estate, Rio Grande Valley Home | 
