Fort Worth, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Fort Worth Police are increasing their efforts to support children who witness violent crimes through the expanded Handle with Care program. Critical changes include updates to 911 questioning, officer notifications at crime scenes involving children, and a confidential school-notification process. The initiative aims to ensure that affected children receive appropriate support in schools, enhancing the wellbeing of young witnesses to shootings, assaults, and domestic violence.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth police expand Handle with Care program to support children who witness violent crimes
Fort Worth Police have increased efforts to identify and support young witnesses of violent crimes through an expanded Handle with Care program that links emergency response with school support. The most critical changes include updates to 911 questioning, required officer notifications at scenes involving children, and a confidential school-notification process designed to ensure affected students receive support at school without exposing sensitive details.
What changed and why it matters
The 911 dispatchers now ask callers if there are children at crime scenes. Officers are reminded to make a “Handle with Care” notification when children are present. The “Handle with Care” program helps to identify vulnerable child witnesses during incidents of shootings, assaults, and domestic violence. These steps are intended to give classroom staff timely, discreet information so they can check in on students and provide support rather than react to behavioral changes without context.
The program has made 1,128 notifications for the 2025 school year alone. Notifications are sent through Education Service Center Region 11, ensuring confidentiality. The information provided to schools is deleted after five days to maintain privacy. Officers must complete a “Handle with Care” form before leaving a scene, which includes the child’s name and school. The notifications advise teachers to check in on the affected child without revealing details of the incident.
Implementation and training
Officers are trained to engage with children by taking time to talk to them at crime scenes. The program has been led by Commander Williams for the past four school years. There is a partnership between the Fort Worth Police and Fort Worth School District to discreetly notify school officials about students exposed to traumatic events. The program maintains confidentiality of sensitive details to protect child victims.
The initiative is expanding, with dispatchers now including child presence inquiries in calls. Following an early 2022 pilot, the program officially expanded due to positive feedback regarding its effectiveness. Williams aims to make “Handle with Care” mandated for all Texas law enforcement agencies.
How schools receive and use the information
Notifications arrive through Education Service Center Region 11 so that school staff receive concise, non-specific alerts. Notifications include minimal identifying information required for schools to locate the student and provide support; specific incident details are not shared. Teachers are advised to check in on students and monitor for behavior changes that can result from trauma. Christina Galanis, interim executive director of guidance and counseling at Fort Worth ISD, states that trauma can lead to behavior changes in children.
Privacy and limits
The program balances student support with privacy safeguards. The information provided to schools is deleted after five days to maintain privacy. The program maintains confidentiality of sensitive details to protect child victims. Officers must complete a “Handle with Care” form before leaving a scene, which includes the child’s name and school.
Background and next steps
The program began with an early 2022 pilot and expanded after positive feedback regarding its effectiveness. Commander Williams has led the initiative for the past four school years and is promoting wider adoption across Texas. The program has made 1,128 notifications for the 2025 school year alone, reinforcing local officials’ view that the protocol has an immediate place in response to violent incidents that involve children.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do dispatchers help identify children at scenes?
The 911 dispatchers now ask callers if there are children at crime scenes.
What must officers do when children are present?
Officers are reminded to make a “Handle with Care” notification when children are present.
What kinds of incidents trigger the program?
The “Handle with Care” program helps to identify vulnerable child witnesses during incidents of shootings, assaults, and domestic violence.
Who manages the program locally?
The program has been led by Commander Williams for the past four school years.
How are schools notified and kept confidential?
Notifications are sent through Education Service Center Region 11, ensuring confidentiality.
How many notifications have been made recently?
The program has made 1,128 notifications for the 2025 school year alone.
What information do officers provide to schools?
Officers must complete a “Handle with Care” form before leaving a scene, which includes the child’s name and school.
What are teachers asked to do after a notification?
The notifications advise teachers to check in on the affected child without revealing details of the incident.
How long is notification data retained?
The information provided to schools is deleted after five days to maintain privacy.
Does the program affect other agencies?
Williams aims to make “Handle with Care” mandated for all Texas law enforcement agencies.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Dispatcher protocol | The 911 dispatchers now ask callers if there are children at crime scenes. |
| Officer requirement | Officers are reminded to make a “Handle with Care” notification when children are present. |
| Notification route | Notifications are sent through Education Service Center Region 11, ensuring confidentiality. |
| Retention | The information provided to schools is deleted after five days to maintain privacy. |
| 2025 activity | The program has made 1,128 notifications for the 2025 school year alone. |
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Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: Fort Worth police expand Handle with Care program
- Hoodline: Fort Worth expands Handle with Care program
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- Google Search: Handle with Care program Texas
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DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
