Fort Worth City Council members have approved a pilot ambassador program aimed at improving safety in the West 7th Street Entertainment District.
The move comes after a man shot and killed Texas Christian University student Wes Smith in the area in fall 2023.
The city has contracted with Block by Block, the same company that currently runs the ambassador program downtown.
The City Council approved the $315,000 contract, but said the actual amount spent will depend on the police department’s needs and available funding.
According to city documents, police say ambassadors can help by being visible, de-escalating aggressive situations, and interacting with property and business owners, as well as people who may need social services. They say it helps ensure the safety of visitors.
Ambassadors also greet visitors and provide general support. They use a special software system to document all interactions and create reports for law enforcement on all services provided on a block-by-block basis, pinpointing problem areas and trends that need to be addressed.
“This is an extra pair of eyes to really help our officers and make sure our civilians feel safe,” Fort Worth Police Officer Tracy Carter said.
He said he hopes to get three to four ambassadors in the West 7th District and have them on the streets by late spring or early summer.
Carter said if the program is successful and the city wants to continue beyond November, it will need to create a public improvement district (PID) to get long-term funding.
“We hope that taxpayers will vote on this bill and put money into this PID fund, which will help support us going forward,” Carter explained.
More areas could be included in the program if needed, according to city documents.
Emil Bragdon said he supports the idea of PID investing in programs to beautify the area and improve public safety. Still, I’m not sure how effective the ambassador program is.
“I want to know how it’s going to impact this region, and every time it’s enacted, you know, 30 days later…every business owner is going to ask how… I’m confident that we have a very good idea of what the impact will be.”Was it beneficial or was it not? ” he said.
Bragdon, who owns several restaurants and bars in the area, said the area has always been relatively safe and feels Smith’s murder is not indicative of the area.
“It’s devastating when something like that happens, it really is. We’re very confident that we have a safe area. Can we be 100% sure that nothing will happen? That will never happen. “No, but I can go buy groceries,” he said. When shopping, you don’t have to be 100% sure that something won’t happen. ”
He and other business owners employ off-duty police officers to keep customers and staff safe.
Carter said the police department has two bicycle patrol teams in the area, as well as foot patrols, vehicle patrols and special operations details.
“We have a very good presence right now. For this region to thrive, we have to maintain that presence. That is now and will continue in the future.” said Bragdon.
He feels safe, but says it’s always good to have extra security measures like the ambassador program.
“Anytime we can push the boundaries of safety for our guests and staff, we will do it,” he said.
