City of Pharr's crime sees a 22% dip

For police, community residents, elected officials, it’s not a good look — in state prisons, approximately 43 percent of the inmates have some sort of mental illness, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

How to lower that number, and crime stats overall, though, that’s the question.

Focus on Mental Health

Meanwhile, national mental health and criminal justice reform organizations argue that current policing strategies — heavily reliant on arrest and incarceration — often fail people experiencing mental health crises.

“People with mental illness deserve help, not handcuffs,” says NAMI, a leading mental health advocacy group, noting that early intervention and robust crisis systems can reduce justice system involvement.

To help address that problem –people with mental health issues need help – the Pharr Police Department has taken a proactive stance in recent years, forming a separate unit whose sworn officers are dedicated solely to those people in need of help.

The positive numbers speak for themselves.

From 2023 to 2024, for example, Fiscal Year 2024, crime in Pharr dropped 22.2 percent. The fiscal year before that, the decrease was 6.6 percent. Before that, barely over one percent.

Pharr Police Chief Juan F. Gonzalez said recently that he expects his department will not only continue policing the city in ways that reduce crime, moving forward, but said he fully expects that the Pharr PD will meet the challenges that lie ahead.

One of the most significant changes for the department came approximately four years ago when the Pharr PD launched a dedicated five-officer Mental Health Unit.

Gonzalez said the specialty unit was long overdue.

“Before that, we didn’t have a dedicated unit that focused solely on people showing clear signs of distress.”

Previously, patrol officers could spend hours at hospitals managing crisis cases. Now, said Gonzalez, the mental health team takes over.

“Our mental health unit gets called out, and that officer take over if it’s a person who needs to be sectioned. Then (the custodial officer) is able to get back on the road instead of having to stay at the hospital until all the paperwork can be sorted out, a judge called if a ‘sanction’ is warranted.”

That single mental health unit, now operating as a part of the Pharr PD, frees patrol units and improves response times across the city, said Gonzalez.

And the specialized officers know the process inside out, he said.

“That’s their primary role. They’re very well versed in what to do, what’s the next step, who to call, and how to get the person help and admitted into the right mental-health facility.”

The Pharr approach mirrors a growing national movement. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has emphasized the value of such units, noting: “Research shows that programs like Crisis Intervention Teams give police officers more tools to do their job safely and effectively — helping keep people with mental illness out of jail and in treatment, while improving officer safety and community outcomes.”

Pharr adapted its model so that it works closely with local hospitals and behavioral health providers.

“The people in need of help will call us directly,” said the chief. Meaning, people who have previously interacted with the PD, understand they need help, and are willing to reach out when they feel a crisis brewing.

“If they just want to talk to somebody, or they need assistance… they’re really reaching out to the team now — ‘Can I talk to Joe? Can I talk to Jackie?’” That kind of trust doesn’t show up in crime charts, Gonzalez said. But it changes outcomes.

“The unit also partners with rehabilitation services, so individuals struggling with addiction aren’t simply handed a brochure.

“We can actually give them a name, a number, or a building that they can go to to get help,” he said.

And if grant funding ever dries up, which helps fund such programs as Pharr’s relatively new mental health unit?

“This is something that our community needs,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think that if there’s a grant or not, that this is not an option. I think we have to dedicate resources to a unit like this.”

Overall PD Numbers Improve

With the release last fall of the city’s crime report for Fiscal Year 2024, courtesy of the FBI’s annual crime reporting program, which showed a 22.2 percent drop in overall crime year to year, Gonzalez said the entire department is deserving of credit.

“One of the main reasons for that positive report, the city’s drop in crime by almost a quarter, is the fact that we almost always now have a full staff of officers on patrol 24/7. In fact, the Pharr Police Department just recently hired eight officers.”

Those eight new officers bring the Pharr PD closer to the 148 sworn personnel that would bring our department to full force, Gonzalez said.

“For a city with approximately 80,000 residents, that matters. When police patrol is fully staffed, officers can deter crime simply by being seen. They can work neighborhoods instead of constantly reacting to the next radio call.”

Uniform Crime Reporting data, courtesy of the FBI, submitted through the state’s long-standing reporting system, shows violent crime in Pharr dropped from 212 incidents in 2022 to 179 in 2024. Property crime fell from 1,219 cases to 919 during that same period — a 23.3 percent decline overall.

“Most importantly, I want to recognize the dedicated men and women of the Pharr Police Department. Their dedication, commitment, and daily service are the foundation of our success. Every day, they work diligently to uphold the safety and quality of life that our community deserves,” said Gonzalez.

“These results would also not be possible without the strong partnership between our department, residents, and local businesses. Their willingness to remain vigilant, protect their property, and partner with us plays a vital role in sustaining these positive trends.”

In homicide, Pharr numbers fell from two to one — a 50 percent drop, though in small numbers that can swing quickly. In more telling categories like larceny — theft cases (larceny) — the city saw a 25.8-percent reduction.

“Public safety remains the city’s highest priority,” said Gonzalez. “Through the consistent support of our city management and city commission, our department is equipped with the tools, training, and resources necessary to serve our community efficiently and effectively. This investment underscores our shared commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for residents, businesses, and all visitors.”

For his part, Juan Gonzalez graduated from PSJA North in 1999, was hired by the Pharr PD in 2007, has a bachelor’s degrees in organizational leadership, and said he’s happy that he began his career in law enforcement in Pharr and it’s where he plans to end his career.

“To be able to serve the same city I grew up in, a place I love, well, I consider that to be an honor, and I say that with all humility.”