Terrell Police Department

Jody Lay – Chief of Police

• Patrol Division
• Directory
• Criminal Investigation Division
• Records and Communication Division
• Scofflaw Program
• Additional Services
  • Enhanced 911
  • Vacation Watch
  • Fingerprinting Services
  • Police Ride Along Program
  • Police Reserve Officer Program
  • Citizens Police Academy
  • 9-1-1 Cell Phone Bank
• Neighborhood Watch
• Hide Lock and Take Program
• Uniform Crime Report Summary
• Crime Alert
• Animal Shelter
• Information for Sex Offenders
• Forms and Applications
  • Alarm Permit Application
  • Citizens police academy application (pdf format)
  • Gasoline drive off form
  • Identity Theft/Fraud Complaint Form
  • Neighborhood watch brochure (pdf format)
  • Solicitor’s permit
  • Solicitors Permit Registration (Non Profit)
  • Parade or Special Event Application
  • Vacation watch form (pdf format)
• Terrell Police Department Firing Range
  

Our Philosophy

Professional and responsibly aggressive law enforcement is a philosophy that promotes a proactive approach to reducing crime and enhancing public safety. This aggressive stance against crime carries with it the responsibility to safeguard individual rights and liberties upon which our country was founded, while utilizing all lawful means available to carry out our core mission – reducing crime, improving quality of life and working with our citizens to make our community safe.

Statement of Quality

The Terrell Police Department is an organization comprised of people of integrity, committed to providing total quality police service to its community in a responsibly aggressive manner.

We will forge a partnership with the community based on mutual trust, confidence, commitment and communication to maintain and improve the quality of life and promote the safety and welfare of our citizens.

The Terrell Police Department exists to meet the City's objectives for the safety and well-being of its residents. In the continuing pursuit of quality, we are guided by the following core values:

Core Values

In service to our community, we are driven by the following core professional values:

• Respect: We value human life, safety and dignity, and commit to treating all human beings with the utmost respect, compassion and concern.
  
• Integrity: We value ethical conduct - and are driven by our professional values and a firm commitment to public trust - which we are unwilling to compromise in the performance of our duty.
  
• Professionalism: By our conduct, goals, intent, character, and standards we shall vigilantly seek to constantly improve our ability to safeguard citizen rights, preserve peace, protect life, and instill a deep respect for the law.
  
• Diversity: We value diversity, and commit to nurturing a welcoming environment of inclusion, in which we recognize the unique skills, knowledge, abilities and backgrounds of all people as our strength.
  
• Collaboration: We value teamwork and commit to cooperative goal achievement through active collaboration and partnerships with the community and with one another.
  
• Problem Solving: We value partnering with citizens to identify and impact the causes of problems within the community that contribute to the incidence of crime.

Want to be a Part of our Team?

We are seeking people dedicated to serving the citizens of Terrell to join our team. If you are a person of integrity, dedicated to service, and want a rewarding career in law enforcement we may have a place for you. If you would like information on how to join our team, contact the City of Terrell Personnel Department at 972-551-6608 or click here.

• For posted job vacancies, the department will review all referred applications and select the applicants to be interviewed and processed. The interviewing department will call candidates to schedule interviews and select the applicant(s) to be considered and hired. Because of the volume of applications and the time required to review and process each application, you will not be called or contacted unless you are selected for an interview or otherwise continue in the hiring process.

Patrol Division

Patrol Division Officers respond to calls, conduct preventative patrol of city streets, enforce traffic laws, and file initial crime reports.

Criminal Investigation Division

The Criminal Investigation Division provides follow-up in cases involving all types of crime.

Records and Communication Division

Copies of accident reports are available during regular office hours. You may also request an accident report by mail. Include a check or money order for $6.00 and mail to: Terrell Police Department, P.O. Box 310, Terrell, Texas 75160. Please include a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Call 972-551-6622 for more information.

For a copy of an offense report or other open records request, call 972-551-6622 Ext.264. You may also request a record in person during regular office hours. You may be asked to show a photo ID. To request a record by mail, include a check or money order for $5 for each report and a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Mail your request to Terrell Police Department, P.O. Box 310, Terrell, TX 75160.

To retrieve or view recovered lost or stolen property, bring proof of ownership, a photo ID, and the case number to the Police station at 201 E. Nash between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Scofflaw Program

The Terrell Municipal Court has an agreement with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles under the “Scofflaw Program,” as it relates to Traffic Law. “Traffic Law” means a statute or ordinance, a violation of which is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.00, that regulates, on a street, road or highway of this state:

(A) the conduct or condition of a person while operating a motor vehicle; or
(B) the condition of a motor vehicle being operated.

If a person fails to appear in court as provided by law for the prosecution of the offense or fails to pay a fine for the violation, the person might not be permitted to register a motor vehicle in this state.

Additional Services

Enhanced 911: 
When you call 911 in an emergency, your phone number and address appear on the dispatcher's computer screen within a few seconds. Even if you are unable to speak due to illness or panic, emergency personnel will be able to respond to your call.

This service is available from any land-line telephone. Currently cellular/mobile phones will display only the phone number, cellular provider and location of the cellular service tower transmitting the call.”

Vacation Watch: 
Call 972-551-6622 at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to schedule periodic checks when you plan to be away from home for vacation or other extended period.

Please submit your vacation watch request at least 7 days in advance to ensure we have time to process the request prior to the start of your absence.

Vacation watch form (pdf format)

Fingerprinting Services:
Fingerprinting services are provided to citizens of Terrell, Texas, as workload and staffing permits and may be provided by appointment, Tuesday through Thursday at the Police Department, located at 201 E. Nash Street. The department can only offer citizens inked fingerprinting. The fee for this service, when available, is $5.00 and you must provide your own fingerprint card. The Police Department does not perform fingerprinting for immigration and a valid identification will be required.

Many organizations are now requiring electronic fingerprints. Although the Terrell Police Department does not offer this service to citizens, L1 Identity Solutions can provide this service for a minimal fee. L1 Identity Solutions can be reached at www.l1id.com.

To make an appointment or to check on inked fingerprinting availability, please call the Terrell Police Department at 972-551-6622.

Police Ride Along Program: 
Qualified citizens may ride along with police officers on patrol two times a year. Anyone interested in the Ride Along Program can obtain an application from the Police Service during regular office hours. The applicant's signature on the form must be notarized (we can do this for you at the office). After a routine background check, which usually takes 2-4 weeks, applicants are contacted to set up their Ride Along schedule.

Police Reserve Officer Program: 
Volunteer police officers support the department by donating their time to assist in all areas of police services work. Volunteers are required to work 16 hours per month with our department. The individual must be licensed by the State of Texas as a Police Officer to be a member of our program. Applicants must be at least 21, in good physical condition, and willing to undergo screening, which includes a polygraph test, psychological evaluation, and background investigation.

Citizens Police Academy
The Terrell Police Department conducts a Citizen Police Academy several times each year. The academy provides the public with a general overview of police operations. Citizens interested in attending should pick up an application at the Police Services, 201 E. Nash St., Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Citizens police academy application (pdf format)

Information on the Texas Concealed Handgun Licensing Classes.

9-1-1 Cell Phone Bank

Donate Your Old Cellular Phones to At-Risk Victims

The Terrell Police Department collects cellular phones that can be provided to senior citizens and victims of domestic violence for use in emergencies. There are no charges to the person donating the phones, as they are deactivated. These phones provide mobile access to 9-1-1 in cases of emergency to these seniors and domestic violence victims who may not otherwise have the ability to contact police or other emergency services when needed. If you are interested in donating a cellular phone, you can bring it to the Terrell Police Department at 201 E. Nash Street, email program coordinator Cpl. Jackson, or click the “Donate Now” button for a postage paid mailing label.

Neighborhood Watch

The Terrell Police Department assists residents in organizing and establishing neighborhood watches in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood watches help residents take ownership of their communities and deter crime in our city. Becoming involved in the program is simple. Every Terrell resident is encouraged to participate.

Contact Corporal Jackson for more information. Corporal Jackson can be reached at 972-563-9064 or by email. More information

Information for Sex Offenders

Sex Offender Registration:

Sex Offender Registration services are provided by appointment only, each Monday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. at the Police Department Building (201 E. Nash St.) Valid photo identification is required. Please call 972-551-6622 to schedule your appointment.