The journey of character that it takes to become a protector of society doesn’t always begin in adulthood. Many great protectors, like Officer Doug Garnett, began hearing the call as a child.
“While playing cops and robbers as a kid, I always wanted to be the good guy,” said Garnett, a police officer with the Texas Health Police Department. “In high school, I did a civilian ride-along with the Fort Worth Police Department and was hooked. So, I attended the first-ever full-time night police academy in Fort Worth and graduated in November 1996.”
The following May, Garnett began his career serving a small community with a high crime rate in Tarrant County. His career would span 21 years before advancing in a new way. Garnett has been protecting employees and patients of Texas Health for six years.
“Doug’s most recent accomplishment took place in April,” said David Dumond, the Texas Health Police Department director for the Greater Fort Worth Region. “An employee had her bag stolen from her vehicle. After the suspects were identified on security camera video, Doug tracked the suspect and their accomplice down. The two suspects were taken to jail and the employee’s property was returned, thanks to Doug. He is a valuable asset to the Texas Health Police Department.”
Continue reading to learn more about Garnett, including innovative ways he maintains safety at Texas Health.
Do you have a favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is traveling. I love exploring new places, like beaches or the best barbecue places (Terry Black’s in Austin so far). I hope to travel more in the future to places like Italy and Ireland.
What is your workday like?
My typical day begins with attending briefings with the security teams. We are briefed on the prior shifts, any BOLOs (Be on the lookout), and any investigations we can assist with. I then go into the hospital and make rounds, noting anything suspicious or out of place. I intervene when necessary. I also respond to disturbances, assist with medical helicopter escorts, patrol the parking lots and surrounding streets, check for doors that need to be secured, and occasionally assist with car accidents until Fort Worth police arrive on the scene.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role and how do you overcome it?
A common challenge we face in law enforcement is recruitment. We compete with agencies across the region, searching for the best of the best to hire at Texas Health. We don’t have SWAT or other specialized units that appeal to the younger generations, but we are dedicated to the safety of Texas Health employees, families and other stakeholders in our communities. Hopefully, in a few months, we will add several fresh faces to our police department.
What kinds of innovative approaches have you or your department adopted to improve safety, communication, or make employees and consumers feel safer?
We are currently in the process of adopting newer radio systems, automated fingerprint identification systems, upgraded tasers, newer body cameras and a few other things behind the scenes. I look forward to sharing these advancements as they come into play.
I am also a member of a group of detectives and analysts from throughout North Texas who communicate and share intelligence daily. Sharing tips on officer safety and criminal activity gives us a chance to coordinate our efforts. This has helped various agencies recognize crime trends, identify suspects and make arrests.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am certified and licensed by Texas as a Master Peace Officer. People also might be surprised to know that I am a huge fan of comic book movies like “Spider-Man” and “The Justice League.”
