Decline in violent crime attributed to Lubbock Police Depot Unit

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock's Depot District is known for its nightlife.

Live music, drinks, food and the history of Hub City draw people of all ages to the area.

In 2021, the Lubbock City Council gave the area another crime citation: violent crime.

Officer Nick Hernandez told us about some of the calls he responded to.

“Stabs, aggravated assault, shootings, disturbing the peace, drunk driving, pedestrians being hit on the road,” Hernandez said.

Corporal Chance Wood said the high call volume in the Depot District kept officers from patrolling other parts of the city.

“Whenever my force went out and we got a call, say for a homicide, our entire force was busy in that area alone,” Wood said.

In September 2021, the Lubbock Police Department established the Depot Unit.

Officers on this team set up barricades between Avenue J and Buddy Holly Avenue every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night around 8 p.m. to make the area more pedestrian-friendly.

The officers then roam through the depot district until they dismantle the barricades at around 3 a.m.

“When we started, it was a rough six months. We were walking around and within six feet of us, people were fighting,” Hernandez said.

The officers are not only on the streets, they also go in and out of bars.

It took Vince Vasquez, the owner of Shotgun Sue's Saloon, some time to get used to this frequent contact with the police.

“It changed my mind,” Vasquez said. “When they come in, we shake their hands and hug them because they're part of our family. The more that becomes visible to others who aren't used to that, the more it opens their eyes to the fact that there's a whole other side to what the police are trying to do,” Vasquez said.

While newcomers may be deterred by the barricades and police presence, Vasquez said he appreciates the proactive approach.

“We want them to be down here 100%,” Vasquez said.

The Depot Unit's newest members, Officer Wyatt Myers and Officer John Murray, said they applied to join the team because they wanted the opportunity to build better relationships with the people they serve.

“I have the opportunity to really immerse myself in the community policing aspect. When you're on patrol, there's no guarantee you're going to be on the same route every night, so it's really difficult to run into the same people multiple times. Now out here, I meet the business owners frequently, so I have the opportunity to put names with faces and build relationships,” Murray said.

Meyers said the officers who formed the unit laid a solid foundation.

“I worked down here before this unit was created, and there is a world of difference between when it was created in 2021 and what it is today. We have had to respond to numerous fights, shootings and mass disturbances down here on a constant basis. Since they have been here, the number of calls has dropped dramatically,” Myers said.

According to LPD, the depot unit has recorded 450 crime reports since its inception in 2021.

The KCBD investigative team examined several police reports, including charges of aggravated assault, use of firearms, and searching for armed suspects in bars.

Some of these weapons were reported stolen and were suspected to be linked to gang activity.

Officials said car break-ins are also a problem, especially when people leave their weapons in plain sight.

Murray said he recently discovered an AK-47 in a vehicle parked outside a bar in the Depot District.

“It’s important for us to be here to prevent the problem before it even occurs,” Murray said.

From 2021 to 2023, at least 258 crime reports were received at three bars in the Depot District. According to LPD, the same bars have received fewer than 20 crime reports since October 2023.

Wood attributes the depot unit's success to the trust it has built with business owners, who now alert officers to suspicious behavior.

“After building relationships and trust with staff and bar owners over the course of two years, we have now created a place where people feel safer,” Wood said.

The KCBD Investigative Team has spoken to most business owners in the Depot District. They attribute the sharp decline in crime, particularly violent crime, to the Depot Unit.

Some business owners said they did not believe such a heavy police presence was necessary because the area was now safer because of its ability to intimidate customers.

When we asked the members of the depot unit about this, they said that crime had gone down because they still had a strong presence.

Some business owners said the construction site on 19th Street and the Depot Unit barriers could make it difficult to navigate the area.

Others said the changes were worth it if they ensured the safety of their employees and customers.

If you haven't visited the Depot District recently, Vasquez hopes you'll reconsider.

“Have a drink here. Go to Bodine's, go to Triple J's and have a great meal. Then end the night at Blue Light with some great live music,” Vasquez said.

When you visit the area, the depot unit officers hope you will say hello.

All rights reserved.