Frequently Asked Questions

Sorry, but no.  We cannot accept used syringes or other medical waste at the fire station.

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Many times people call the police about things that aren’t crimes. Things are said and done by others that may be painful and may seem like crimes, but if they don’t fit the definition of the crime then Police can’t charge or arrest the offending party. Unfortunately, the Police can’t make people behave more cordially or be more courteous.

Many times disputes between neighbors are civil matters. Civil laws are those areas of the law where Police Officers have no authority to act. And those matters are usually handled in non-criminal courts. When disputes don’t involve a criminal issue, it may be necessary for the complaining party to resort to using their own attorney or, if the parties are agreeable, they can be referred, at no cost, to mediation.

Issues of child support, child custody, child visitation, and divorce are civil issues. These are things that you must handle with your private attorney.

If your need for the person to leave is because of relationship violence, you can seek a Protective Order through your District Attorney’s Office. If you are seeking to make them leave for other reasons, you may need to pursue an eviction through your Justice of the Peace Office. You can locate more information on where to find Justice of the Peace Courts on these websites: Denton County Justice of the Peace Precincts or Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precincts. 

People who are suffering from mental illness can’t just be “committed” like in the movies. If they are found to be a risk of harm to themselves or others at the time the Police respond, they may be arrested without a warrant and transported to a mental health facility. They may be there only a short time. You are also able to seek a Mental Health/Chemical Dependency Warrant through a County Mental Health Probate Court. For more information, visit Mental Health Treatment Court Program-Denton County or Emergency Mental Health Commitments - Tarrant County.

Retrieving or dividing property is a civil matter and you should consult your attorney.

In most cases, after the initial Police Report, if there was no arrest, your case passes to the hands of a Detective for investigation. You may or may not hear from the Detective depending on how the investigation proceeds. The case may be filed at the County level. The District Attorney’s Office in that County then decides on how the case will be handled. And if it will proceed through the Criminal Justice system.

The City of Roanoke has invested in new and improved water meters. These meters will assist with data collection and reduce costs associated with manual monthly meter reading. In addition, the updates provide an improved experience for you, the user!

New meters are now installed. 

The City of Roanoke  contracted US Bronco Services to perform the meter change installation. 

Water will be off while the meter is being installed. The average meter installation should take approximately 10 minutes. 

Your water line will be flushed at the outside spigot by US Bronco Services once the new meter is installed. If the line cannot be flushed, a notice will be placed on the door of the home. The notice will inform the resident of the need to flush the sink faucet for several minutes or until the air in the line dissipates. 

The City of Roanoke Utility Billing Department is available to answer your questions. You may email or call 817-491-2411 during regular business hours, Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  

• An innocent victim of crime who suffers substantial threat of physical and/or emotional harm or death.
• A dependent victim.
• An authorized individual acting on behalf of a victim.
• An intervener who goes to the aid of a victim or peace officer.
• A person who legally assumes the obligations or voluntarily pays certain expenses related to the crime on behalf of the victim.
• Immediate family or household members related by blood or marriage who require counseling as a result of the crime.
• A peace officer, firefighter or individual who has a duty to protect the public and who is injured in a crime.

Benefits may be reduced or denied if the victim:

• Participated in the crime.
• Engaged in illegal activity.
• Contributed to the crime was an inmate at the time of the crime.
• Knowingly or intentionally submitted false or forged information to the Crime Victims' Compensation Program.
• Did not cooperate with the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Crimes covered by Crime Victims' Compensation are those in which the victim suffers substantial threat of physical or emotional harm or death. These may include sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, assault, homicide and other violent crimes.

Vehicular crimes that are covered include failure to stop and render aid. DWI, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated assault, intoxication, and intoxication assault.

Claims may be approved for benefits up to a total of $50,000. In the case of extraordinary pecuniary losses resulting in a total and permanent disability, victims may be eligible for an additional $75,000 in benefits.

Upon approval, benefits may be awarded for the following:

• Medical, hospital, physical therapy or nursing care.
• Psychiatric care or counseling.
• One-time relocation assistance for victims who are assaulted in the victim's place of residence, including victims of family violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
• Loss of earnings or support.
• Loss of wages and travel reimbursement due to participation in or attendance at the investigation, prosecutorial and judicial processes.
• Care of a child or dependent.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Crime scene clean-up.
• Replacement costs for clothing, bedding or other properly seized as evidence or endured unusable as the result of the investigation.
• Attorney fees for assistance in filing the Crime Victims' Compensation application and in obtaining benefits if the claim is approved.
• Loss of wages and travel to seek medical treatment or counseling.

Additional benefits for victims who have suffered an extraordinary pecuniary loss include:

• Making a home or car accessible.
• Job training and vocational rehabilitation.
• Training in the use of special appliances.
• Home health care.
• Reimbursement of lost wages.
• Rehabilitation technology, long term medical expenses and durable medical equipment.

Reimbursement for property damage or theft is not an eligible expense. Please note that financial assistance may be limited or unavailable depending on laws in effect when the crime occurred.

Every law enforcement agency and prosecutor's office in Texas is mandated to provide victims of crime with information about the Crime Victims' Compensation Program application for benefits. When contacting these agencies, please ask for the victim assistance liaison or coordinator, who can provide assistance in completing the application. Hospitals and medical centers may also have applications and materials.

Applications for benefits can be obtained directly from the Crime Victims' Compensation Program in the Office of the Attorney General by calling 800-983-9933. Professional staff at the division are also available to answer any questions and provide assistance in completing the application. An application can be completed online or downloaded from www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Click here to download the Crime Victims’ Compensation Application, fill it out (remember to sign) and either mail it directly to the Attorney General’s Office in Austin at: 

Office of the Attorney General 

Crime Victims’ Compensation Program (011) 

P.O. Box 12198 

Austin, Texas 78711-2198  

You can also fax (817-491-6053) or mail it to the Roanoke Police Department’s Victim Liaison at: 

Roanoke Police Department 

Attn: Crime Victim Assistance

609 Dallas Drive

Roanoke, TX 76262

 Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Application - English

 Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Application - Español

If the Crime Victims' Compensation Program makes a decision with which the victim or claimant disagrees, he or she has a right under the law to ask that the decision be reconsidered. In order to appeal a decision, the victim or claimant must notify Crime Victims' Compensation in writing within 30 days, stating the reason for dissatisfaction. If the outcome of the reconsideration process is not satisfactory, the victim or claimant has 30 days to request a final ruling hearing from the Crime Victims' Compensation Program. Should the victim or claimant not agree with the outcome of the hearing he or she has 40 days from the date of the final hearing to file the attorney general a written notice of dissatisfaction and 40 days thereafter to file a lawsuit in district court. 

The process of editing a document in order to conceal or remove confidential information before disclosure or publication. For more information about what is eligible for redaction please visit our exemptions page.

No. Criminal Histories are not considered public information. The Roanoke Police Department can provide a background check of an individual with the individual's consent via a Release of Authorized Information. This would only be for the jurisdiction of Roanoke, Texas. You are able to locate criminal histories through the Department of Public Safety.

Yes. As of November 1, 2023 the Roanoke Police Department charges for Open Records Requests. To view the details of the costs associated with requests, please visit the Costs of Copies and Access page.