[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483830,"mediaKeyId","5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed","parentId",5567007,"title","Cedar Hill honors 25-year city employee; named Texas APA Community of the Year","audioSeconds",337,"startMs",40000,"endMs",377000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed&start=40&end=377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed/thumbnail_40000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483830/Cedar-Hill/Dallas-County/Texas/Cedar-Hill-honors-25-year-city-employee-named-Texas-APA-Community-of-the-Year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483830-1c758cb00aae466b5e5fa8a3af8e0eb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984891&Signature=BxPYLE0FC~U5Doh5vUHJOW963boZjzaYr4LjAyEDSRuIXRw1N4Kttk9Ncik3lVytwrzgLFFLUjg4GjNZjWXLaN5jiEbLeHKYkNTrv5MBKn4NK9L-COCR~U9XTDeEJypeRlz04MSC47KEs468jvLjH-how5nbUKrV1O6hpGOauh2EZrac8wDET2d3FjmIHZ8yAoZH23u2ugCO2Ug4gk-Vbe4KN0fzVTWLWcHImg0fTXMx3TR4tnLtjsyAdCu3eWAdJ8Xf-vI3kRJvhvGSsGj5DYj-W8bMSfcj0yfh0T8Su6WyfwmdDkN16L82mI2FuzyD6038jYS0ckltu0Gk28suvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cedar Hill","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","At the Aug. 12 briefing session the City Manager recognized Belinda Berg for 25 years of service to the city and announced that the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association named Cedar Hill its Community of the Year.

City Manager remarks detailed Berg’s contributions, including integrating video recording for council meetings, enhancing the boards-and-commissions interview process and orientation, implementing an online open-records request system and establishing the city’s online agenda system. The manager said those initiatives increased transparency and modernized city operations.

The city also announced that Cedar Hill received the Texas APA Community of the Year award, which the chapter gives to communities that demonstrate planning leadership, innovation and preservation of local character. The City Manager said formal recognition will occur during the Texas APA state conference in October and that staff will issue a press release and social-media posts to highlight the award.

Assistant to the City Manager Colby Collins, whom the City Manager credited for the APA award application, received council praise; the council noted Collins’s short tenure and multiple recognitions since joining the city. The City Manager said staff will present the physical award at a future council meeting for formal acceptance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cedar Hill - City Council Briefing Session","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager recognized Belinda Berg for 25 years’ service and announced Cedar Hill was named Community of the Year by the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association; formal recognition planned at the APA state conference in October.","taxTitle","Cedar Hill, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",60935,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483836,"Cedar Hill police, fire present 2024 annual reports citing drop in crime and heavy public safety budget share",0,1851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed&start=1851&end=1851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed/thumbnail_1851000.jpg","/articles/6483836/Cedar-Hill/Dallas-County/Texas/Cedar-Hill-police-fire-present-2024-annual-reports-citing-drop-in-crime-and-heavy-public-safety-budget-share","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483836-574048a26685541ab9502663d7ca0e8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984891&Signature=m4ZHaVpV2aO2w0Akepyw-odO2RgKFF838JT1aFaRyAF7xYRMyG4oPVn8tmvJoVnIssQoiWp-CRISmsJPpgJq2VuDWRjQHEM5Hv6l~wY6nI-Nl0SqV9lraWE59lDjr~fXQ5n2REx-jszBwo53z1wwJ23C-7haLfTCZUdPPygtk1YW6f9Q5DENSAP8Asp1nr1KvMMG5jVFfmV8M4wA0pOf87Q3hH1guc~qaXzS0W9kKccgQdhk5rqUMPv0U9r3DPqbyLKWSfV10MupN-kpnZ3KA3~KNBTfonT3UgDOd5Rb10cUAmlWATanpSPxUZQrROy9lFkt-7JPQC2HlyGS-byr1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cedar Hill public safety leaders presented their 2024 annual reports to council on Aug. 12, reporting declines in crime indices, detailed investigative statistics and broad community outreach efforts.

Chief Reyes briefed the City Council on department mission and trends, saying the council’s recurring budget decisions dedicate roughly 60–65% of the city’s general fund to public safety. Reyes said the city’s overall crime index is down nearly 40% over seven years and down about 7% year over year.

The police portion of the report included detailed operational figures: 20,574 calls for service, 10,580 traffic stops and a combined 31,154 total encounters with the public in 2024. The department reported 1,257 arrests and 25 incidents involving physical force; staff said those force incidents encompassed 30 types of physical force and occurred in about one in every 1,246 encounters. The department reported 64 instances in which an officer pointed a firearm (described in the report as \"threats of force\") and said internal review found those incidents were within policy.

Detective work and records: Assistant Chief Lafferty reported Criminal Investigations received about 4,500 cases with more than 2,000 resulting in additional follow-up; he said CID’s clearance rate was 24% for the year and the combined clearance rate for Part 1 and Part 2 crimes was about 47–48%. Technical and records staff — led by Pam Brown — handled roughly 3,900 open-records requests and processed alarm permits and billing; the department reported property-and-evidence operations conducted multiple audits and recorded 100% compliance during inspections.

Professional standards and use-of-force review: Captain Chenault said the department provided about 6,445 hours of training in 2024 and described internal-complaint totals: 13 citizen complaints and 22 internal complaints for a total of 35 complaints and 65 allegations. Chenault emphasized the department’s internal accountability processes.

Patrol and community services: Assistant Chief Reese said patrol responded to more than 20,000 calls and achieved modest improvements in response times. Community service officers handled more than 4,600 calls and produced roughly 950 reports, freeing patrol officers for higher-priority work. Traffic enforcement units logged about 1,700 stops; commercial motor-vehicle inspectors performed 585 inspections, documenting about 4,000 violations and taking 65% of inspected trucks out of service, the presentation said.

Community outreach and awards: Lieutenant Sandifer described the Police and Community Team (PAC) and listed programs including citizen police academies, National Night Out, youth summit, senior-center visits and crime-prevention efforts. The department highlighted year-end awards and said officers and staff vote on annual honors; the department also noted ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.

Chief Reyes and staff supplied full printed copies of the 2024 police and fire annual reports for council review.","Chief Reyes and public safety leaders reported a near-40% crime-index decline over seven years, high clearance rates, staffing and community outreach metrics, and that the council commits 60–65% of the general fund to public safety.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483840,"Cedar Hill opens applications for Fall Citizens Leadership Academy; class capped at about 25",667,915000,1582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed&start=915&end=1582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5567007-955a1ab45a1f5714227ff45a91aab8ed/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6483840/Cedar-Hill/Dallas-County/Texas/Cedar-Hill-opens-applications-for-Fall-Citizens-Leadership-Academy-class-capped-at-about-25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483840-3a4e734b7bc6f0da41df874bd1d6c96e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984891&Signature=DEgRxP7zV85T72OtKiyu11oSDUXLmNiF-AgOskpvn1KRqzm4bi5iMRbJeKBZmD4ePKLERTgeChuL4q7ou41-v8lk6i~NT1mPICUNIQw1XvV0YmRTJ0701Xmb-gqisZkgANCz-fZ5SsLDKpKT9axd-kvzwCyrzRAOkCX-D6deR9b2E2VUuZ83H8nDwcv7Wo~j~l0yrYhSBxVqhzEo-4S2tzc6qkSkiB4Neqj2OzfS-qlI7rCYY~aIXNtOrE6viDzksH6cP8xXiFhv96flS4sRzNmcVa0fxt888KrWjd0SFa1b1npXmUAaJE5n6zfQW-KBirDhho3BKtb5PJUfPvJCrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff outlined plans for the third Citizens Leadership Academy class and opened an application period beginning Aug. 18. Assistant to the City Manager Colby Collins and Communications and Engagement Manager Sofia Enzmann presented the program to the Cedar Hill City Council on Aug. 12, 2025.

The Citizens Leadership Academy is a multiweek program that gives Cedar Hill residents behind-the-scenes exposure to city operations, staff and departments. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 18 through Sept. 5; selected participants will be notified Sept. 8. Classes are scheduled to run Sept. 25 through Nov. 8, and the class will be recognized at the Nov. 11 council meeting.

City staff said eligibility requires participants be Cedar Hill residents, at least 18 years old and not running for public office during the class. The program is being capped at about 25 participants to preserve a personalized experience, Collins said. Staff reported that 39 people have completed past sessions and that 10 alumni have since served on city boards and commissions.

Presenters said the curriculum offers departmental presentations and hands-on activities with parks and open space, public safety, public works, neighborhood services, the library, planning, economic development and tourism, and — new this year — Cedar Hill Independent School District. Collins and Enzmann said the program supports council priorities for transparency and community engagement and helps develop a civic leadership pipeline.

Council members asked about distribution of the presentation and outreach. Councilman Sims confirmed the city had emailed the presentation to council members; Collins and Enzmann said a dedicated web page and social channels will include application links and program details. Councilman McCurdy suggested adding material such as water and utilities relationships (for instance, Trinity River Authority) so graduates can explain those services to the public. Councilman Hayden asked about class size and was told staff expects to cap enrollment around 25.","City staff described the Citizens Leadership Academy program, opened applications Aug. 18 through Sept. 5, with classes running Sept. 25–Nov. 8 and a graduation planned for the Nov. 11 council meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cedar Hill honors 25-year city employee; named Texas APA Community of the Year

Cedar Hill police, fire present 2024 annual reports citing drop in crime and heavy public safety budget share

Cedar Hill opens applications for Fall Citizens Leadership Academy; class capped at about 25