Show All Answers

1. I believe I have witnessed or am a victim of a crime. How do I report the incident?

If you suspect you have been a victim of crime or have witnessed a crime or suspicious incident, you should contact the Schertz Police Department immediately. If the incident does not appear to be serious in nature, it is recommended that you call the Schertz Police Department non-emergency line at 210-619-1200. However, when in doubt or if the situation appears to be an issue where an immediate police, fire, or EMS response is warranted, citizens should dial 911. Actual Schertz dispatchers will immediately answer and direct any necessary services to assist you.

When reporting incidents, you should obtain as much descriptive information as possible. Obviously, you should never put yourself in a position where your personal safety is in jeopardy. However any information you can obtain can be extremely helpful to law enforcement. The following information are a few items that can prove to be useful:

Personal Descriptors

• Sex
• Approximate age
• Race
• Clothing descriptions (i.e. t-shirt versus long sleeve shirts, pants versus shorts, colors, shoes, headgear, or hairstyles)

Vehicle Descriptors

• Make
• Model
• Vehicle type (i.e. 4-door, 2-door, SUV, etc)
• Color
• Approximate year
• Accessories (i.e. large tires, head-ache racks, oversized bumpers, exhaust tones, bumper stickers, etc.)

Other Descriptors

• Street with block numbers or incident location
• Direction of travel (if suspect was seen departing)
• Number of persons involved

2. How does someone become a police officer?

To obtain additional information on how to become a Texas Peace officer or obtain employment with the Schertz Police Department, visit the SZPD Employment page.

3. How can I submit a complaint when I witness an officer perform an act of misconduct?

The Schertz Police Department is committed to providing professional services. If you feel that an officer or member of the Schertz Police Department has acted unprofessionally or has committed other acts of misconduct, you can do one of two things:

• You can call the Schertz Police Department at 210-619-1200 to report the incident. A Department supervisor will review the incident and forward any necessary information to the Office of Professional Standards for immediate disposition.
• You may appear in person to complete a formal complaint of the misconduct. Your complaint will be forwarded to the Office of Professional Standards for immediate inquiry and disposition.

Although not always necessary, it is requested that you leave your name and contact phone number so that a Department Supervisor will be able to speak to you personally about the incident and pass along any facts regarding the incident.

4. How can I recommend an officer for recognition when I witness an act of exemplary performance?

If you believe that an officer has acted above and beyond the call of duty and believe the officer should be recognized for exemplary performance, the same methods as submitting a complaint are also excellent means to ensure that officers receives the recognition they deserve. All too often, the fact that officers are people too is forgotten. Like all people, officers also enjoy being recognized for the things they do right.

5. What does "SZPD" stand for?

The acronym "SZPD" is short for the SchertZ Police Department. For several years now, the Schertz Police Department has partnered with the San Antonio Police Department in the use and operation of mobile data terminals that offer law enforcement only access to needed criminal, license, or registration information. These terminals are the computers or laptops you frequently see inside police vehicles. In order to differentiate the Schertz Police Department from other departments within the system that begin with "S", the Schertz Police Department was given the identifier of "SZPD". The Schertz Police Department has come to accept this moniker and believes it signifies the pride and uniqueness of the Department and its personnel.