How did you end up in Southlake?
The opportunity really came out of nowhere.  I had been the Assistant Chief of Police in Corpus Christi for about a year.  My police chief in Corpus Christi, Troy Riggs, had been mentoring me for a Chief of Police position.  Chief Riggs became aware of this opportunity in Southlake, and we talked about it.  I talked it over with my wife, because if she wasn’t on board, it wasn’t going to happen.

When my wife and I made a trip to Southlake to check out the area, she was a little apprehensive.  We took a wrong turn because I didn’t know the area that well yet.  We ended up at Dragon Stadium; that was hook number one for my wife.  Next, we went to Central Market and that was hook number two for her.  Then we went to Town Square and it was a done deal!

What attracted you to Southlake?
Professionalism.  Truly, the professional workforce that exists throughout the city, and certainly with the police department, is what drew me here. It’s reflected in the manner in which the officers interact with the community.   As I talked with the people of Southlake during the hiring process, I asked citizens their views of the police department, and without fail, every comment I heard was positive.

What is your police background?
It really started when I was a small child. I’m the youngest of seven sons and my father was a police officer with the city of New York for more than 20 years.  My uncles were police officers with the city of New York for 30 years.  So from a very early age, that exposure to police work and what the badge stands for were very much engrained in me.  As I grew up, I knew I wanted to follow in my family’s tradition.

I went to Averett College (which is now Averett University) in Danville, Virginia, for about a year and a half.  I realized that I wasn’t ready to be a student, so I entered the United States Air Force as a security police officer and started building my police career there.  I had the opportunity to travel and gain a lot of experience in the Air Force.

However, my desire was to be a civilian municipal police officer.  So I went back to New York with the intention of getting in the New York police department, but there was a hiring freeze at that time.

One of my brothers had come down to Corpus Christi in the early ‘80s as a police sergeant and told me the department was hiring.  I went down there, took the test, was hired, and spent almost 23 years on their police force.

I spent the majority of my time there on patrol and worked my way up through the ranks from Officer to Senior Officer to Lieutenant to Captain to Commander and then Assistant Chief.  I also did work in an undercover capacity in the narcotics division and taught the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for about a year.

What were some significant policy initiatives that you were involved with at your previous job?
One of the things Chief Riggs initiated in Corpus Christi was the “Reorganization Project.” The purpose of the project was to overhaul how the police department operated from top to bottom, and the assignment was given to me.

We invited the community to help us with this reorganization process.  You have to understand that a police department works for the community.  The community and officer interaction that we were able to create during that “Reorganization Project” re-engaged our community with the police department.  The community worked as equal partners with us to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and enhance public safety.  As a result, the Corpus Christi police department looks much different than it did just two years ago.

I was thankful for Chief Riggs giving me the privilege of overseeing that project.  I was able to develop as a manager and leader during that time.

Who has influenced you?
First and foremost, my faith in God and my relationship with Jesus Christ are at the core of everything I do.  I have deep faith and live my life by that.

Certainly, my wife and children have a great deal of influence over me.  Growing up, my father instilled in me a strong work ethic.  My mother instilled in me a sense of integrity, ethics and morality.  My six older brothers greatly influenced me as well.  When you have six older brothers, you learn quickly that if you step out of line, you’re going to get nailed, and I did on several occasions growing up!

From a professional standpoint, Chief Troy Riggs has been a tremendous mentor and there is no way in the world I would be in this position right now had he not invested in me.

What do you do for fun?
For most of my life, I played soccer.  I had the opportunity to play in England for two years but suffered some injuries that ended my ability to play, so I began coaching.  I was able to coach my children, which I enjoyed.  Away from work, soccer was it.

Over the last couple of years, I haven’t had a whole lot of time for fun.  So I have promised my wife that we were going to make some time and enjoy the many opportunities the Metroplex has to offer.

In 2009, a group of Christ-followers began to meet in the home of Lead Pastor Clay Reed. Soon after, with a few families they stepped out in faith and officially opened doors as “Southlake Baptist Church” meeting at Carroll High School on White Chapel Blvd.

The church has experienced God’s presence and blessing over the past two years, as families have joined and lives have been changed. The church has worked to reach out to the city of Southlake and has seen God’s favor in how our church has been welcomed into the community.

In May of 2011 the church stepped out in faith again and started organizing a lease agreement with Carroll ISD to utilize the empty Carroll Intermediate School located on N. Carroll Avenue. After much prayer and planning, SBC entered a 2-year lease with the district, and undertook a remodel and facelift to the facility.  After 2 months of construction, our first service was held August 8th in our new facility. On that day, we stood in awe of all God had done.

God is still doing great things, and continues to bring families to join our church family. With an average attendance of 145-200 people, Southlake Baptist celebrated 2 years of ministry October 16th. We celebrated with worship and fellowship, and of course with Babe’s Chicken and Mister Softee ice cream. We know exciting times are ahead of us, we believe God will do amazing things in Southlake, and we look forward to many more years of ministry to this community.

Since childhood, I’ve had a fascination with the job of a fire fighter and was thrilled to sit down with our City’s Fire Chief, Michael Starr to learn more about his job.

Of course, we started off with some small talk, which led to his background and where he grew up. Mike grew up in Aubrey, a small community northeast of Denton, with a population of about 2,000 people. The Chief remarked, “It’s a small town where everyone still knows everyone. It’s where I went to school, played football, and I actually still live there and drive to Southlake for work.”

Isn’t that a long drive to Southlake? “It’s a little bit of a commute, but Aubrey still has a rural atmosphere, and I’m really involved in the community out there. My family is from the area, so I like to stay close to my family.”

We transitioned to how he came to work in Southlake, and I found out that Mike’s been working for the City for fourteen years.

“In 1997, I was working at The Colony’s fire department and volunteering with Aubrey’s fire department. The fire academy coordinator at the time told me that Southlake was up and coming and that I would enjoy working here. Always up for a new challenge, I tested here and was excited to hear calls about structure fires over the radio. I saw how Southlake ran its operations and decided this was where I wanted to be. When I arrived, I found Southlake was experiencing a good deal more action and growth than The Colony, where I had previously worked.”

How do you feel about the job now? “Fourteen years have gone by, I’m still here, and I love my job. It was a good decision- no regrets.”

As we chatted about his job, Mike shared his memories of his first day on the job in Southlake.

“A storm of calls came through that day- 15 in fact- and the guys on shift said, ‘This is not our norm; we don’t usually run this many calls a day.’ When we responded to a structure fire call, I figured they wouldn’t let me do anything since it was my first day on the job. We pulled up to a house with flames going through the roof, and my field training officer grabbed a nozzle and said, ‘Here you go, Mike. Get after it!’ We did a good job and put a stop to the fire. The only downside was that one of us had to stay with the house all night.” He explained, “We have a policy that if a structure fire occurs, and there are hot spots, we stay with the house for several hours to make sure it doesn’t re-kindle. Since I was the new guy, I got to stay with it all night! It was my first day in Southlake, so I had no clue where I was or how to get around. The guys told me, ‘We’ll be back to get you in the morning. Don’t go to sleep.’” The chief laughed and added, “I’ll never forget that first day on the job in Southlake! We handled car fires, structure fires, and emergency response runs, and for a fire fighter, it was like, ‘This is the place to be!’ But like I said, it isn’t always like that; it’s usually much calmer.”

Tell me about your journey to becoming Fire Chief.

“Robert Finn, promoted to Fire Chief in 2003, and I put in for Captain of Operations- a position that handles day-to-day activities and anything that has to do with fire and emergency response. While Chief Finn did the administrative budgeting, council meetings and such, I handled the daily operations of the department.”

Chief Starr went on to tell me that in 2008, when Chief Finn transitioned to Interim Police Chief, Starr promoted to Interim Fire Chief. Because City Manager Shana Yelverton liked the direction the departments were taking, she offered to make the positions permanent, and the men accepted.

Continuing in our conversation, I learned that the Southlake Fire department does much more than respond to fires.

“We employ certified fire inspectors who go out to make sure buildings are up to code and there are no violations. In doing so, we become more familiar with building layouts and know where things are in the event of a fire.” Starr told me that the majority of the calls they receive are for Emergency Medical Services, and these keep the staff busy. “People used to think we just sit around fire stations in recliners every day, but it’s not like that at all. We are a relatively small department, so we wear many hats and do plenty of work.”

Since you are required to show up for every structure fire, you obviously keep a hectic schedule. How do you keep this job from consuming all of your family time?

“When I take off work, family is my focus. When I’m at home, it’s all about them. Does our time get interrupted sometimes? Yes, it does. But if I worked a 9-to-5 and came home at 5 but wasn’t interacting and spending time with my family, there would be no use in me even being there. When I am with my family, we have good quality time together, go to movies, go camping, and work out together. My wife loves to go camping, so I try to take off a couple weeks each year for us to go with her family to New Braunsfel, float the river, and camp out.”

What do you see with staff in your department when it comes to family time?

“I try to keep my own family involved in the department, and I encourage the same with our firemen. I think that in fire service, you need to be family oriented. One of the things we do is display a case containing photos of our families. Sometimes, our spouses and kids come up to see us at work and go out to lunch with us. I know our firemen’s families, and they know my family. The guys are already close because we basically live together every third day. Family involvement just makes us that much closer and connected.”

I asked the Chief about his goals for the Southlake Fire Department and wasn’t at all surprised to hear that some of them involve children and families. He told me that Safety Town is one big project he’s working on right now. “It has so much potential for being able to educate the community and opens up a whole new avenue for us to be able to interact with and teach kids.”

Also important to him is opening and staffing the new north Southlake facility. “Our response times up to the north area are longer than we want because we don’t have a station there. It’s our goal to shorten that response time.” Additionally, the department prioritizes maintaining their accreditation. The process involves officials visiting the department to check whether it meets national standards. Starr explained, “Without some kind of measurement tool, such as accreditation, you hear complaints from citizens that you aren’t doing your job. Sometimes, departments get complacent and think they are doing what they need to be doing rather than taking steps to constantly improve. This City is always looking for means of improvement, a priority driven by the city manager. I don’t think any of us will ever get to the point where we think we are good enough. We are always planning and implementing ways to provide our citizens with high-quality emergency service.”

How can Southlake residents help fire fighters do their job? This was my final question to the Chief. He told me that the Department puts a high priority on educating the community, and particularly, its children about fire prevention. “While we do go into the schools and invite kids into the fire station, I’m not sure how many parents talk with their kids about fire prevention activities. It actually is important to set off your smoke alarms to see if they are loud enough to wake up the kids, and what they would sound like if they sounded.” Starr said parents should put together their own emergency plan and go over it with the kids- what to do if you hear the smoke alarms, how to get out of the house, and where to meet up as a family. “These are things you can do at home to help prevent injury to your child in the event of a fire; when you hear those alarms, they put you in panic mode. But if you train your kids, they will know what to do if your alarms do go off.”

As we wrapped up, I realized that my childhood dream of becoming a fireman wouldn’t be so much about big, red trucks and spotted Dalmatians. Rather, it would be more about commitment and service to a community. And if I had become a fireman, I would be proud to call Mike Starr my Chief.

By Zack Polyak

“As I was growing up in Dallas, Texas, there were three things that defined you as a man: your athletic ability, how many girls you had chasing you at any one time, and your monetary success. In fact, society today has really defined men in those types of areas. Once I entered the NFL, I was able to acquire these three, but found that as a man, I still had a lot of unanswered questions.

It wasn’t until Jesus Christ came into my heart, that I realized those things were not an expression of authentic manhood and that no other person modeled true masculinity better then Jesus Christ. In my Christian walk, I made some progress in many areas as a man but my growth didn’t really take off until I attended a Men’s Fraternity. The Men’s Fraternity gave me direction by defining what an authentic man looked liked. I learned that I needed other men in my life who could model for me what a real man should be. My relationship with my wife greatly improved as I became the man that she needed in her life.

Every one of the men at the Men’s Fraternity were going through the same process, so we could encourage each other as we began our quest toward authentic manhood together. The entire experience was life changing for me.

I want to challenge each and every man to get involved in a Men’s Fraternity and become a part of a group of men that struggle just like you do, so that you can grow together and have the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God.” -Matt Stover

Come be a part of the Men’s Fraternity in the Southlake area, as we begin our quest together for authentic manhood on September 28. We will meet on Tuesday mornings from 6:00-7:30AM. Location to be announced soon.

For more information contact John Ballenger at 817.701.5143 or john@southlakebaptist.com. You can also find out more about the Men’s Fraternity by visiting mensfraternity.com.

By John Ballenger

On Saturday, August 28, nearly 120 volunteers descended on Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve. Volunteers from the City Council & Staff, Mayor John Terrell and family, a Boy Scout troop, Tarrant County Master Gardeners, Cross Timbers Equestrians, Steele Stump Removal, Cliff’s Tree Trimming, Gateway Church, Grace Community Church, Southlake Baptist Church, and many residents from Southlake turned out to help spruce up the Nature Center.

For about 3 hours, the Nature Center was a hive of activity as volunteers weeded flower beds, put down new mulch, trimmed trees, ground stumps, repaired bird feeders, and cleared brush and leaves from nature trails. The Nature Center provided crafts and activities for small children. Chick-fil-A of Southlake graciously donated lunch to all volunteers.

S.W.A.T. (Southlake Working As A Team) is a community initiative founded by Southlake Baptist Church in an effort to bring together Southlake churches, businesses, organizations and residents to make Southlake a better place.

When asked why S.W.A.T. was formed, Southlake Baptist Pastor, Clayton Reed had this to say:

“Our goal at Southlake Baptist Church was to create an organization like Southlake S.W.A.T. to capitalize on the enormous resources of different constituencies in Southlake that typically don’t work together and create a sense of community and teamwork for the betterment of the City.”

For more information about S.W.A.T. visit southlakeswat.org or call 817.912.1234. See more photos from SWAT.

By Lindsay Polyak

Steele Stump Removal

Located in the heart of Southlake, Texas, Steele Stump Removal has been providing tree stump removal and grinding services for many years. As a preferred tree stump removal specialist, Steele Stump Removal takes great pride in their specialty. They are fast, professional, reliable and most importantly friendly.  Steele Stump Removal has volunteered their services for the last two S.W.A.T. events in Southlake.

You can contact Steele Stump Removal at 817.915.8049 and steelestumpremoval.com.

Cliff’s Tree Trimming

Cliff’s Tree Trimming owner and operator Cliff Donnelly is a certified arborist who has been serving the DFW area for many years.  His company has partnered with Southlake Baptist Church and Southlake S.W.A.T. on two occasions to provide high quality tree trimming services to Carroll High School and Bob Jones Nature Center.

You can contact Cliff’s Tree Trimming at 817.988.4745 or cliffstreetrimming.com.

Chick-fil-A at Southlake

Franchised restaurant owner and operator Mark Guilbert and Chick-fil-A at Southlake graciously provided lunch for all the S.W.A.T. volunteers who came out to help at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve on August 28, 2010.

Contact Chick-fil-A at 817-481-7152 or visit cfarestaurant.com.

By Clayton Reed

Two men. Totally different takes on life. One man was a king. His name was Solomon.

Solomon set out to try everything at least once. If he saw it, he tried it. He built an empire and experienced every pleasure. He was financially, relationally, and experientially on top of his world. He was a man who had everything his heart desired.

Yet Solomon said his attempt to have it all was “vanity.” He writes in the book of Ecclesiastes about how his pursuit led to nothing but emptiness. He hated life.

The second man was a prisoner. His name was Paul. Paul was on top of his world, but then his world got turned upside down. His beliefs led him into suffering, prison, poverty, and pain. He lost everything. In a pit like that, you would expect to find a bitter, angry, and broken man.

But – just as unexpected as the despair of Solomon’s heart – we find Paul had a heart full of hope. He wrote about being contented and full of joy – from his jail cell!

So what did Paul have that Solomon couldn’t buy? JOY.

Now understand, joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness comes from the Latin word “hap” which means “chance” or “happenings.” “Happiness” is more of an emotional response to what happens, a result of pleasurable activities or results. Happiness is a fleeting emotional feeling based on positive circumstances.

Joy, on the other hand, is inner delight derived from a close relationship with Christ. Happiness is produced by situations and circumstances, but joy rises out of relationship. No matter what life brings my way, if I have a relationship with Christ, joy can flood my soul. It’s what the Bible calls “peace that passes all understanding.” Happiness can be manufactured, for a while, with pills, pleasure, people, and places. But eventually the well of happiness comes up dry, when the “new” wears off and the thrill diminishes.

Joy is not the absence of sadness or cheeriness in the midst of difficulty. Joy is much deeper. Joy is a spiritual quality that sustains us in the midst of life’s challenges, as well as life’s good times. Joy is less a feeling based upon our experience and more of a lifestyle that comes from experiencing the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
That’s how the Apostle Paul could be full of joy, even in prison. His joy was based on his relationship with Christ. Paul knew Jesus!

Over the next eight weeks at Southlake Baptist Church, a new sermon series will take us on a journey through Philippians, the “JOY” book of the New Testament, and help us learn how we can have joy in the midst of our difficulties and in spite of our circumstances.

August 15 – Joy in Humility
August 22 – Joy in Sanctification
August 29 – Joy in Service
September 5 – Joy in Loss
September 12 – Joy in Pursuit
September 19 – Joy in Godliness
September 26 – Joy in the Unknown
October 3 – Joy in Need

Join us for a life changing series that will help you find hope, peace, and joy – even when all the indicators of your life point to despair.

The new headquarters of the Southlake Department of Public Safety, was dedicated on January 8, 2010, after nearly two years of construction. Located at 600 State St., this state-of-the-art, 80,000 plus square foot structure was customized to both accomodate current community safety needs and meet the challenges that will accompany future population growth. Housing the city municipal and Metroport teen courts, fire station and police department, the DPS building is a critical resource for our city employees as they serve the community.

The 29 million dollar headquarters stands out with its supreme architectural design. When asked his thoughts about the newly constructed facility, Mayor John Terrell said the Department of Public Safety building is, “a jewel that sits on top of a hill … by which people will come to recognize Southlake.”

The facility is also admired for some historical aspects that will gain the appreciation of generations to come. To the left of the entrance is an area with a buried time capsule containing historical momentos of Southlake. City officials inserted a video montage of the 2010 grand opening ceremony and an array of photographs depicting the Department’s history. The time capsule is to be unearthed 50 years from now, in 2060, as a reminder to future generations of the hard work and dedication that went into founding the DPS.

As I toured the ins and outs of the Department, I was struck by its remarkably beautiful and functional features. However, as impressive as the facility is, its prominent structure is overshadowed by the character of the public servants who work there every day. I was fortunate to meet several of the officers and firefighters on duty at the time. Many of them told me about their careers and service to Southlake; many have served more than a decade. As they spoke, I sensed that these men and women consider their jobs more than an occupation. They see serving this community as a privilege and a way of life. The Department of Public Safety facility is our way of ensuring that these first responders have a home base from which to efficiently serve the community.

And serve and protect they do. Research shows Southlake has a violent crimes rate far lower than the state and national averages, making Southlake one of the safest cities to call home. To the police officers, to the firefighters, to the first responders of Southlake, we say “thank you for your service.” From the design of the building, to the dedication of the employees, the Southlake Department of Public Safety truly is a “jewel” that shines bright in our city.

We will be hosting a Men’s Fraternity in the Southlake area this fall.  Imagine the transforming power of men coming together to honestly examine their lives and take the courageous steps necessary to embrace authentic manhood on a journey to become who God intends them to be.

When men connect in life-changing ways, a powerful ripple effect touches families, workplaces, and the church. Deeper connections with God and other men inspire participants to connect more meaningfully in all facets of their lives. They climb beyond the walls of isolation and aspire to a biblical viewpoint marked by integrity, boldness, and compassion.  That is the goal of Men’s Fraternity.

Through this powerful series, men learn to reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and expect God’s greater reward.

Men’s Fraternity……what is it?
Men’s Fraternity is a series of three one-year-long studies, beginning with The Quest for Authentic Manhood, followed by Authentic Manhood: Winning at Work and Home, and concluding with The Great Adventure series. More than just a rally or a Bible study, Men’s Fraternity provides men with an encouraging process that teaches them how to live lives of authentic manhood as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God.  It’s an environment of openness and brotherhood, like back at the fraternity in college, only more helpful and spiritually constructive.

How did it start?
Men’s Fraternity was created by Robert Lewis, pastor-at-large of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas and author of Raising a Modern Day Knight. It began in 1990 with 30 participants as Robert strived to connect with and challenge the men of his church.

We will be hosting a Men’s Fraternity in the Southlake area this fall.  Imagine the transforming power of men coming together to honestly examine their lives and take the courageous steps necessary to embrace authentic manhood on a journey to become who God intends them to be.

Over the years it has developed into a series of studies designed to engage the heart as well as the mind, stripping away the myths of manhood, and focusing on how each individual can be transformed into a true man of God. Now, more than 15,000 groups of men attend a weekly Men’s Fraternity meeting globally.

What’s the format?
The format is simple: Men come together for weekly 45-minute teaching sessions, followed by 30 minutes of small group interaction in an environment where men are free to talk openly and confidentially about what they heard and express mutual support for one another.

Why should I come?
Every man needs a “band of brothers” and the true power of Men’s Fraternity lies in bringing men together on common ground to learn together and listen to each other. Bonds of true God-centered friendships are formed as men encourage each other week- by-week to more fully embrace a godly view of manhood.

Men’s Fraternity in Southlake is sponsored by Southlake Baptist Church.

For more information about Men’s Fraternity visit mensfraternity.com

Southlake is considered one of the best places in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to live and conduct business. Few people have done more to make the City a safe haven than Police Chief Robert Finn. As a 31-year-resident and 23-year public servant of the City, Chief Finn has helped make the Southlake Department of Public Safety second to none.

Chief Finn has served as a volunteer fire fighter, EMT, professional fire fighter, fire chief and presently police chief. In retrospect, Robert told us, “I have never gotten bored or stagnated at any one position with the City. It seems like every time I have needed a different challenge in my life or felt like I had outgrown my surroundings, Southlake’s population grew, and I grew with it.” He laughed and continued, “And I guess after 23 years, I have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up.”

In our interview, we asked Chief Finn about his unique leadership philosophy, delved into his day-to-day responsibilities, and discovered some practical tips he believes would help our residents.

You were the Southlake Fire Chief before becoming the Police Chief. How do those two jobs differ?

“You wouldn’t think that the two jobs would be that different; after all, they’re both divisions of public safety. But in terms of the makeup of the personnel, people who are in fire services versus people who are in police services require a different style of leadership. For example, fire fighters function in a team setting. As the head of a fire department, you’re almost more of a coach trying to make the team function well. You can’t take one guy, put him in a fire truck and send him somewhere by himself. All four go on that fire engine together, whether it’s to the grocery store or to go work out. When the bell rings, that whole team has to be intact. Police officers are close, but they’re not together all day. Many times, they’re on patrol for 12 hours by themselves looking for the negatives in the world. That’s definitely looking at the world through a different lens.”

“The community perception of fire fighters versus police officers is different, too. The community seems to love fire fighters, regardless. Whereas, people are not always excited to see policemen. Fire fighters never turn on their lights to tell somebody they’re doing something wrong. So I have to realize as police chief, when police officers leave our building, they’re not met with open arms when they stop someone for speeding or for running a red light. It really comes down to creating a culture based on valuing how we treat each other so that good things happen, and our police are not always faced with the negative aspects of the society.”

What is the focus of the Southlake police?

“Much of our focus is derived from community input. Our Citizen Survey is a good example of that. The community has told us that their concerns for safety are speeding in residential neighborhoods, speeding on the major thoroughfares, and people running red lights. When we ask people how they feel walking alone in their neighborhoods, the scores are really high, and that’s great! Our community feels safe! So our focus in Southlake has to be a lot more on quality-of-life issues. For example, the community has expressed concern about teens congregating in Town Square. Families don’t feel like it’s a family environment anymore when you have teens running wild, blocking sidewalks, and cursing. Moms and dads are concerned about their 8-year-old children being exposed to that. All in all, we focus much of our attention on quality-of-life issues.”

In what ways can Southlake residents help police do their job?

“There are three practical and easy things they can do:”

1) Whether you are at home or not, close your garage doors.
“Just like any businessman, a criminal has a business model that he follows. The model for criminals is to acquire goods at the lowest cost possible and sell them where they can get the most money. Southlake is attractive to thieves because people here have nice stuff, and nice stuff sells for more money.”

“Picture a guy driving a truck through Timarron looking for an open garage door. He can easily grab power tools, lawn tools, and golf clubs, and be in and out of a garage in 30 seconds or less. Thieves drive through neighborhoods just after dark and really early in the morning. We’ve caught them in the middle of the day, too. We have about 50 garage burglaries a year in Southlake, and most of those could be avoided if homeowners would simply keep their garage doors closed.”

2) Lock your car and remove or hide valuables in your trunk.
“In 2008, we had 220 reported instances in Southlake where things were stolen out of people’s vehicles. We made a push in 2009 to see those numbers come down, and they did. You might have seen our sky watch tower in Town Square. Our officers are patrolling more in parking lots to watch people and cars and see what’s going on. Also, the camera system we put in Town Square in the parking garages helps us see different things going on; it makes a big difference.”

“If people can keep their vehicles from being such an easy target, it will go a long way toward reducing our number of thefts. We have just as many cars getting broken into as we have people stealing from stores through basic shoplifting.”

3) Remain vigilant.
“It’s very easy in a safe community like this to become complacent. People see something that looks out of place, but because they are complacent, they don’t call us. From a public safety perspective, we would much rather get the call and go visit with someone who thinks something looks off, than not get the call at all. In my experience, when something seems wrong, it usually is.”

From a police officer’s perspective, what do Southlake parents need to know about their kids?

“It’s really about being aware of what your kids are doing. There are a lot more risks for kids today than there were when we were growing up. They all have cell phones and constant contact with each other. They are faced with different dangers that are present on the internet. Here in Southlake, parents are busy, and it’s hard for them to be with their kids all the time, but they really need to be more involved with their kids’ lives in order to know what’s going on. A lot of times, the parents give their kids some freedoms, and trust them, but become blind to what’s really going on. When we look at reports coming out of the schools, there’s probably more drug use going on, especially at the high school and senior high school level, than the community wants to admit. We have parents hosting parties where they provide alcohol for teenagers to drink, and that’s illegal. Parents can wind up going to jail for providing alcohol to minors.”

“One way for parents to be aware of what their kids are doing is to attend the SPARK meetings in our community. SPARK covers topics such as bullying, teen drinking, eating disorders, internet safety, and emerging drug issues. SPARK helps educate parents about dangers that are out there and helps them be on the lookout for those dangers in their kids’ lives.”

What does an average week look like for you as police chief?

“An average week starts off with all the department directors meeting on Monday mornings at Town Hall for staff meetings and updates on what happened over the weekends with our command staff. On Tuesdays, we have city council meetings, so the day may start at 7:30 and end at midnight; the hours are long.”

“I spend a lot of my time planning and meeting with community groups. On any given week, I may be speaking at the Rotary Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, or doing breakfast meetings for the executive forum. Because most people in our community work and commute, evenings are devoted to those meetings. We hold meetings about three evenings a week because the community is usually available after 7 PM. Council meetings, crime, neighborhood watch, SPARK, and other community events like SPIN meetings are in the evenings. The key for me in this position is to make myself accessible to the community so that I can know their perceptions of community problems. I try to get out and walk Town Square, visit with people, visit with families if they are walking in their neighborhoods, introduce myself, and see what’s going on to make sure folks feel like they are getting the service they want from the police department. I enjoy getting out and being among the people. I like hearing what the community thinks, and showing them what we do, how we do it, and how it impacts our lives.”

In a city that is focused on excellence, Chief Finn is highly thought of by many residents and city officials, including City Manager, Shana Yelverton. “Chief Finn has been here longer than most residents and city officials and has been in a position to watch the City develop and grow. He has high expectations, both for the City and for himself and is a great example of how we do out-of-the-box thinking in Southlake.”

Long-time Southlake resident and city leader, Mike Farhat, told the Pulse, “Commitment, respect, devotion, and leadership. That’s what I have known Chief Finn to have for the past 20 plus years.”