Police Services

Going out of town? Officers will make periodic checks of your home while you are away. During each check, the officer will drive by and, when safe to do so, walk the exterior of the home to check doors, windows, and gates.

To request a house watch, please provide:

• Your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached while away
• The dates you will leave and return
• An emergency contact who lives locally and can access the home
• Names of anyone authorized to be at the home (house sitters, family, lawn care)
• Vehicles that will be parked at the home, with color, make, and plate number
• Whether lights will be on timers and whether you have an alarm system
• Any pets inside or in the yard

Please call the department when you return home early or if your plans change so officers do not treat activity at your home as suspicious.

If you are worried about a family member, friend, or neighbor who lives in McLean and you are unable to reach them, call (806) 395-5198 to request a welfare check. An officer will go to the residence to make contact. If you believe the person is in immediate danger or having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Please be ready to provide the person's name, address, age, any medical conditions, when they were last heard from, and whether they have a vehicle.

Officers can perform vehicle identification number (VIN) verifications needed for certain title transfers, bonded titles, and out-of-state vehicle registrations. Call ahead to schedule a time. Bring the vehicle, the title or other ownership documents, and your driver's license.

If a child, vulnerable adult, or animal is locked inside a vehicle, call 9-1-1 immediately — temperatures inside a car in a Panhandle summer can become deadly within minutes. For ordinary lockouts, officers may be able to assist when available, but residents are encouraged to contact a locksmith or roadside assistance provider.

Fingerprinting for employment, licensing, and adoption is handled by the state-approved vendor through the Texas Department of Public Safety's Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) program. Locations are available in Amarillo and Pampa. The department can provide ink fingerprint cards for some non-state purposes by appointment.

Officers provide funeral escorts and traffic control for local services. Funeral homes or families may arrange an escort by calling the department as soon as service times are set. Organizers of parades, races, and other events that use city streets should contact City Hall and the police department at least two weeks in advance.

If you have information about a crime, drug activity, or a person wanted by police, you can share it with the McLean Police Department. You do not have to give your name.

• Call the non-emergency line at (806) 395-5198 and tell the officer you wish to remain anonymous.
• Write down the information and drop it off at the police department or the City Hall drop box.
• Contact Texas Crime Stoppers or the Texas DPS iWatchTexas program to report suspicious activity statewide.

Please include as much detail as you can: who, what, when, where, vehicle descriptions, and license plates. If a crime is happening right now, call 9-1-1.

Every tip is reviewed. Some tips lead directly to an arrest, while others help officers connect information from several sources over time. Because anonymous tips cannot be followed up with the tipster, the more detail you provide up front, the more useful the tip will be.

• Lock doors and windows, even when you are home or stepping out for a few minutes.
• Install deadbolts on exterior doors and secure sliding doors with a bar in the track.
• Keep exterior lights on at night or install motion-sensor lighting.
• Trim shrubs that could hide someone near doors and windows.
• Do not hide a spare key under a mat, flowerpot, or above the door frame.
• Record serial numbers and take photos of valuables, firearms, tools, and electronics.
• Lock sheds, barns, and shops, and do not leave tools or equipment in the yard.

• Always remove your keys and lock your vehicle — most vehicle burglaries happen to unlocked cars.
• Never leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle.
• Keep purses, wallets, phones, and packages out of sight.
• Park in well-lit areas and in your garage when possible.
• Do not leave a vehicle running unattended to warm up on cold mornings.
• Mark trailers, ATVs, and farm equipment with an owner-applied number and record VINs.

Scammers target people of all ages, but seniors are frequent victims. Remember these rules:

• No government agency or police department will demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• A grandchild in trouble who asks you to keep it secret is a classic scam. Hang up and call a family member.
• Never give remote access to your computer to someone who called you out of the blue.
• You cannot win a lottery or sweepstakes you did not enter.
• Be wary of contractors who show up after storms asking for full payment in advance.
• Shred documents containing personal information and check your credit report each year.

If you believe you have been scammed, contact your bank and call (806) 395-5198 to make a report.

Business owners may request a free security walk-through. An officer will review lighting, locks, landscaping, camera placement, cash handling procedures, and alarm systems, and provide recommendations. Businesses are also encouraged to keep an updated after-hours emergency contact on file with the police department.

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs. Neighbors agree to look out for one another, report suspicious activity, and share information. The department can help you organize a block group, provide signs, and attend your first meeting.

• Know which apps and games your children use and who they talk to online.
• Keep devices in common areas of the home, especially at night.
• Teach children never to share personal information, photos, or their location with strangers online.
• Report online exploitation to the NCMEC CyberTipline and to the police department.

Under Chapter 56A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, crime victims have specific rights, including the right to protection from threats and harm, the right to be informed about court proceedings, the right to provide information about the impact of the crime, and the right to apply for compensation through the Crime Victims' Compensation Program administered by the Texas Attorney General.

If you are in danger, call 9-1-1. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233. Officers can help you obtain an emergency protective order and connect you with shelter and advocacy services in the Panhandle region.

Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time. Officers are trained in crisis intervention and can connect individuals and families with local mental health authority services.