As Hutto grows in population, crime has increased in some categories, according to Police Chief Byron Frankland.

Frankland, sworn in as chief April 6, served more than two decades with the city of Galveston on its police department’s Narcotics Task Force, Nightwatch Patrol Division, Major Crimes Division and as assistant chief since 2011.

Hutto City Manager Odis Jones said Frankland has brought a high level of experience to the job.

“He gives us the ability to grow the department,” Jones said. “He is a strong leader.”

Growing it is what is needed, Frankland said, to combat an increase in drug-related crimes and arrests.

“We see a pattern of people getting their drugs in our city, and that creates problems for the neighborhoods,” Frankland said. “With Hwy. 79 and SH 130 here, there is easy access to Hutto. Our drug-related arrests are higher now.”

Also on the officers’ radar are domestic violence calls, the most dangerous for officers, according to Frankland.

“You never know what you’re coming in to,” Frankland said. “Domestic calls are down 23 percent, but they are still a big issue. We have to have officers trained to help in those situations and work with the victims to get them help if they need and want it. We need to respond and help where we can. We now have sex offender registration ordinances, which also makes the community a safer place to live.”

Calls for service according to Frankland are at 16,000 through July 4; last year they were at 10,000 at the same point in the year. And although crimes such as residential burglaries are down 47 percent in 2017, criminal mischief calls were higher with more than 40 instances of windows shot out with BB guns.

“But officers investigating cases that happened on their watch stayed on for additional time in the next shift, and they were able to catch the suspects,” Frankland said. “These officers care about the community, and they took it personally.”

Frankland said his next budget includes adding five experienced officers, who officials said will be phased in throughout fiscal year 2017-18.

“We will have an investigative team to help give our patrol officers more time on the road preventing crime,” Frankland said. “We will look to add a K-9 unit, because we need one here. We are tied up waiting for Williamson County or another department to come to Hutto to help. If we have a K-9 unit, we will be more efficient.”

The goal of his department of 36 on staff, is to be proactive in community policing and trained to handle any situation.

“We have officers who specialize in different areas, and we want to make sure they are doing what they want to do and what they are good at,” Frankland said. “We are going to have a lot of in-house training. We will hone skills and provide leadership training so our officers can step up to the next level.”

During his career, Frankland said he has never seen a city team so dedicated to public safety.

“We’ve put together a budget with growth,” said Frankland, who said his department has approximately $3.9 million of the city’s $12.3 million budget. “Everybody is committed to public safety and doesn’t want us to get behind as Hutto grows.”

Frankland said he looks forward to having a traffic safety unit, family services unit, and motorcycle and bicycle units.

Assistant City Manager Danielle Singh said Frankland’s team is working within the city’s strategic plan to develop for the years ahead.

“We are finding innovative ways to accommodate the needs of the community,” Singh said. “By making some budget moves for next year, we will free up funds for the police department.”

On July 13, City Council discussed pulling funding for streets, drainage and maintenance out of the general fund and selling bonds for the infrastructure needs, freeing funds in the general fund for the department.

Hutto officials are working on the budget for the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.