Cedar Park and Leander police department leaders

Cedar Park and Leander police department leaders

Saturday, 07 April 2007

Henry Fluck, Cedar Park Police Chief

From an early age, Henry Fluck knew he wanted to be a police officer. After serving as a police officer in Baltimore, Md., for more than two years, he moved to El Paso, where he eventually became the Assistant Chief of Police.

Fluck stayed in El Paso for 25 years before retiring from the department in 1996. He eventually returned to the El Paso Police Department to serve as the director of Training for the Police Academy.

His hobbies include long distance running and racing. Fluck recently qualified to run in the 2008 Boston Marathon.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Indiana University in Pennsylvania, Master’s degree in Sociology.

Family: Chief Fluck and his wife Meredith are expecting a new baby in September. They have a 27-year-old daughter, Bianca, and an 8-year-old stepson, Micaleb.

Contact Information: 259-3600

Q. How and when did you become Cedar Park Chief of Police?

A. After serving on the El Paso Police Department for 25 years and retiring as the Assistant Chief of Police, I was invited by a consultant to apply for the Chief position in Cedar Park. I was selected and began serving the city in December 1999.

Q. As Chief of Police, what are your duties?

A. I oversee all the operations of the Police Department, including my favorite part of my job, which includes honoring officers by presenting them with awards and commendations, as well as promoting deserving officers and swearing in new officers. I’m also involved in the department’s new mentoring program for officers interested in one day becoming police chief. I speak to the officers on the leadership, management, administrative and political aspects of the job. We begin our second semester this month.

Q. How is the department meeting the increasing needs of the city and citizens as Cedar Park experiences growth?

A. We have developed a five-year staffing plan that is matched up with the projected growth of the city. We currently have a ratio of 1.4 officers per 1,000 residents. By October 2007, we hope to be at a ratio of 1.5 officers per 1,000 residents. Additionally, we utilize proactive patrolling methods to deter crime and prevent traffic accidents. Through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, Cedar Park police officers are paid to work overtime at high-accident locations to reduce the number of traffic accidents, injury accidents and fatalities. We also have added three officers to patrol Cedar Park’s first controlled-access turnpike, 183A.

Q. What does the future hold for the department?

A. We are facing some big challenges – the growth of the city and a highly-competitive market for recruiting police officers. But we are proud of Cedar Park’s low crime rate and hope to continue that success.

Q. What is the craziest call that has ever come into CPPD?

A. A convenience store clerk called that she found a “python.” When Animal Control arrived on the scene, the clerk showed them what appeared to be a “pipe bomb.” CPPD Communications personnel misunderstood what the clerk had said. Upon seeing the actual pipe bomb, Animal Control summoned the police. The responding CPPD patrol officers evaluated the scene and requested the assistance of the Austin police department bomb squad. The bomb squad arrived and rendered the pipe bomb safe.

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Lt. Greg Minton, *Commanding Officer, Uniformed Division Leander Police Department

Lt. Greg Minton comes from a family of public servants, including his grandfather, who served as a police officer until he was killed in the line of duty in 1965.

“It was something I always wanted to do,” Lt. Minton said. “Law enforcement is something I truly love.”

Originally from San Antonio, Lt. Minton has been with the Leander police department for 12 years and is passionate about his work and his community. He and his wife Michelle were responsible for starting Leander’s Blue Santa. Lt. Minton also played a large role in LPD’s National Night Out program before being promoted to Commanding Officer.

• Education: Associate’s degree from Austin Community College. He currently is working toward his bachelor’s degree at Texas State University.
• Family: Minton and his wife have two children, Madison, 6, and Mason, 4.
• Contact Information: 528-2800

Q. How and when did you become Commanding Officer of LPD’s Uniformed Division?

A. Leander is the first law enforcement job I received. After earning my peace officer certification, I joined LPD as a reserve officer – an unpaid position – and then became a part-time warrant officer. In 1995, I was hired as a full-time patrol officer. I was promoted through the ranks, serving as a corporal and sergeant before receiving my current post of lieutenant.

Q. As Commanding Officer, what are your duties?

A. I supervise 20 employees, including Uniformed Patrol, Animal Control and Leander’s School Resource Officers. Additionally, I am responsible for my section’s budget and other administrative duties.

Q. How is the department meeting the increasing needs of the city and citizens as Leander experiences growth?

A. We have created a five-year staffing report to help us keep up with the growth. We currently have one officer for every 1,000 residents. Our goal, through the staffing plan, is to reach of ratio of 1.4 officers per 1,000 residents. In order to meet that goal, we hope to add 46 officers within the next five years to reach an overall strength of 71.

Q. What does the future hold for the department?

A. The word that comes to mind is growth. Our new building and the five-year staffing report can attest to that. Additionally, we are working on an accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). We already have been recognized by the CALEA, which is a great accomplishment for a department of our size.

Q. What is the craziest call that has ever come into LPD?

A. A call came in at 3 a.m. that a resident had seen some kids fighting another individual, who they threw into the back of their truck before driving away. I found the vehicle in question and pulled it over. I could see an arm reaching up out of the bed of the truck. I called out to this person. When the person didn’t respond, I became a little spooked and told the driver and passenger to step outside. After they were secured inside the patrol car, I approached the pick-up to check on the victim. I discovered that my “victim” was actually a statue of Santa Claus. The teenagers had stolen the statue and while lifting it into the truck, dropped and broke it, resulting in what looked like a scuffle.

* Police Chief Don Hatcher was involved in budget meetings and unavailable for interviews.