About the Department
The El Campo Police Department serves a population of 12,350. El Campo is the largest city in Wharton County. In addition to providing police services for the residents of El Campo, the police communications division dispatches fire and ambulance service to approximately 10,000 rural residents in West Wharton County.
Each year the police department responds to more than 13,000 calls for service. These responses result in over 3,000 criminal arrests, 4,500 traffic citations, 5,800 warning citations, and 1,200 crime reports. In 2021 the El Campo Police Department conducted six internal investigations.
The El Campo Police Department is a Recognized Law Enforcement Agency through the Texas Police Chiefs Association's Recognition Program. The Law Enforcement Recognition Program is a voluntary process where police agencies in Texas prove their compliance with 166 Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices. These Best Practices were carefully developed by Texas Law Enforcement professionals to assist agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of service, the reduction of risk and the protection of individual’s rights.
El Campo PD first achieved recognition status in 2014. The El Campo Police Department was re-recognized in 2018. Since 2006, just over 100 out of the State's 2,699 law enforcement agencies have achieved recognized status.