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DeSoto Police Chief Joseph Costa has been named one of the finalists for the top cop job in the city of Austin.

Costa is a candidate for the currently unoccupied chief role in the Texas capital and could be soon headed to Austin.

He is among more than 30 candidates that are being considered for the position.

Costa first arrived in DeSoto in 2012 from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department where he worked since 2005.  

Before relocating to Texas, Costa had a distinguished 25-year career with the Massachusetts State Police.

His roles included patrol officer, radar enforcement, homicide investigations, narcotics, and Internal Affairs.

He also served on the Massachusetts Governor’s Auto Theft Task Force, the DEA Task Force, and worked with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

In Texas, Costa continued his law enforcement career, serving as a Sergeant/Investigator with the Texas Lottery Commission and as an Investigator with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice/Education from Boston University and a Master’s Proficiency Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLOE).

Costa is also a graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the FBI National Academy.

“We believe in Chief Joe and are supportive of any path that he chooses to pursue,” said DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor in a statement.

“Joe is a valuable member of our community and has done an excellent job of building a police department that we are proud of and that serves the people of DeSoto well.”

The post DeSoto’s Police Chief Joseph Costa Named Finalist for Austin’s Top Cop Position appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DeSoto Police and Fire Departments have released their call volume reports for the week of June 2 to June 8, detailing a busy period for emergency services in the city.

The DeSoto Police Department handled a total of 2,332 calls during this period.

Most of these were neighborhood patrol calls, which accounted for 767, a 4% increase from last week’s 738 of the total directed patrols, followed by 360 calls.

Business-related calls numbered 256, while animal-related incidents prompted 76 calls.

Officers responded to 58 calls regarding suspicious activity and handled 301 traffic-related incidents.

Meanwhile, the DeSoto Fire Department responded to 232 emergency calls for service in the same week.

Of these, 164 were medical calls, highlighting the critical role of medical response in the department’s operations.

The remaining 68 calls were categorized under fire and rescue, including 4 major vehicle accidents, 1 Diesel Tanker Fire, 1 Car Fire, 1 Trash Fire, and 14 Fire Alarms.

Notably, 84 medical calls required additional assistance and manpower from a fire engine.

The data from these reports provide valuable insights into the types of emergencies and routine calls that the city’s first responders handle, aiding in the continuous improvement of their efforts.

The post DeSoto Police and Fire Departments Weekly Call Volume Reports appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DeSoto Police Department has released its call volume report for the week of May 19-25, documenting a total of 2,308 calls.

This data provides insight into the department’s active engagement with the community and its response to various incidents.

There were 807 incidents, the majority of which were neighborhood patrol calls.

These patrols are a critical component of the department’s strategy to maintain a visible police presence and deter criminal activity within residential areas.

Following neighborhood patrols, directed patrols were the second most common type of call, with 662 instances.

Directed patrols are specific assignments focused on particular areas or issues based on current crime trends and community concerns.

Business calls also formed a significant portion of the total, with 279 calls recorded.

These calls often involve responding to alarms, checking on the security of businesses, and addressing any incidents that may occur within commercial properties.

Animal-related calls accounted for 65 incidents, as the department also deals with calls addressing concerns related to pets and wildlife within the community.

Suspicious activity was reported 49 times, highlighting the community’s vigilance and the police department’s response to potential threats or unusual behavior.

Traffic-related calls, which include accidents, traffic violations, and other roadway concerns, amounted to 278 incidents.

Meanwhile, the DeSoto Fire Department responded to 250 emergency calls for service during the same week.

Of these, 181 involved medical calls, and 69 were fire/rescue calls.

The fire-related incidents included 6 major vehicle accidents, 1 structure fire, 1 vehicle fire, and 14 fire alarms.

Additionally, 80 of the 181 medical calls required additional assistance or manpower from a fire engine.

The post DeSoto Police and Fire Departments Call Volume Report appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The City of DeSoto and the DeSoto Police Department will host the upcoming 2024 Texas Police Games. The Texas Athletic Federation announced the decision in its newsletter. The Texas Police Games is a well-organized competitive event that provides commissioned police officers with the opportunity to compete with their peers from across Texas and the nation.

Across the country and in North Texas, communities are coming together to pay tribute to fallen police officers, recognizing their dedication and sacrifice in serving and protecting their communities.

Among these communities, DeSoto stands out as it held a solemn Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in front of its police station.

The ceremony, organized by the DeSoto Police Department, serves as a reminder of the bravery and selflessness exhibited by law enforcement officers.

With reverence and respect, city leaders, community members, and fellow officers gathered to honor the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

“In the performance of their duties, there were 136 law enforcement officer fatalities in 2023 with Texas losing roughly 11 officers,” said DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor.

As the sun cast its warm glow over the gathering, officers from the department stood at attention, setting a somber tone for the ceremony.

“We gather together today to honor and pay tribute to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities,” said Assistant Chief Jesionek speaking to onlookers.

“But before fulfilling our somber purpose here today, please allow for the presence of hope as the number of officer line of duty deaths decreased by 39% from 2022 to 2023 and for the first time since 2019, COVID-19 was not the leading cause of on-duty death.”

As Mayor Proctor looked upon the Table of Honor, Assistant Chief Jesionek described the items on the table representing a fellow fallen officer and what they left behind.

Each item is read aloud, accompanied by a moment where the solemn notes of bagpipes fill the air, followed by a 21-gun salute to honor those who fell in the line of duty.

In DeSoto, across North Texas, and the country, the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony serves as a powerful testament to the valor and sacrifice of fallen police officers.

Video of the ceremony can be viewed on the City of DeSoto’s Facebook page.

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