Lake Worth Police Department

Lake Worth

POLICE DEPT

PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP

SUPPORT SERVICES COMMANDER, JOE CONNOLLY

Commander Connolly is a 31-year law enforcement veteran who began his career with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in California. Since then, Commander Connolly has risen through the ranks and served in a variety of assignments including detention, patrol, narcotics, training, criminal investigations, and professional standards. Commander Connolly leads LWPD’s Support Service Division, which includes criminal investigations, training, property and evidence, communications, the City Marshal’s Office, and records.

In 2007, Commander Connolly was awarded the purple heart and medal of valor for unselfish and meritorious action taken in the line of duty, which resulted in the saving of a young woman’s life.

Commander Connolly holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Columbia University and is a graduate of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration’s (ILEA) school of executive leadership. Additionally, Commander Connolly is a master peace officer and police instructor.

Commander Connolly has been married to his wife for 35 years. Together they have two grown children and one grandchild. In his free time, Commander Connolly is an avid runner and enjoys spending time on his farm with his family.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, WHITNEY GILBERT

Whitney Gilbert is a veteran telecommunicator who leads Lake Worth PD’s Communications Center. Over her career, Whitney has served in all areas of emergency communications including police, fire, and EMS. Whitney is a communications training officer and is certified by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Professionals (APCO) as a communications center supervisor.

Whitney holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Adminitstration from Black Hills State University in South Dakota and will soon complete her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Texas Christian University (TCU). Additionally, Whitney is an attendee of the prestigious Leadership, Executive and Administrative Development (LEAD) certification program at TCU, where she will graduate in May of 2021.

Whitney is a mother to a beautiful 10-year-old girl who enjoys playing softball and horseback riding. When not at work, Whitney, her boyfriend, and their children enjoy working out and spending time together as a family.

FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

The Lake Worth Police Department is partnering with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and other Tarrant County agencies to establish the first Mental Health Diversion Center in North Texas. The mission of the center is to provide a recovery-oriented, short-stay alternative to incarceration for nonviolent, justiceinvolved persons with mental health needs. Using the Harris Center for Mental Health in Houston as a model, Tarrant County’s diversion center would focus on offenders who commit lowlevel, non-violent crimes who have, or appear to have, a history of mental illness. The program is for adults only and would be completely voluntary.

The Tarrant County Mental Health Diversion Center would be the second facility of its kind in the state, and the only center north of Houston. Through this program, leaders expect to see a reduction in initial arrests and repeat arrests for low-level, nonviolent offenses, thereby saving time and reducing justice-related costs. In Houston, the program saw an overall 15% decrease in jail book-ins and a projected saving of more than $21 million in the first two years. The program was also successful in reducing recidivism by 67% for program participants following their first diversion.

Chief J.T. Manoushagian serves as a member of the Mental Health Diversion Center Implementation Oversight Committee and is very optimistic about the center’s benefit to the City of Lake Worth and surrounding area. “This center will fill a critical need in our community and provide our officers with an equitable alternative to arrest. Because in the end, the person needing help receives the services they need without ever entering the criminal justice system.”

The center is expected to be operational within the next 12 – 18 months and will likely be centrally located in Tarrant County.

Whitney Gilbert Communications Manager wgilbert@lakeworthtx.org Joe Connolly Commander- Support Services bconnolly@lakeworthtx.org