City wins TML safety award

Port Lavaca’s commitment to mental health has garnered statewide recognition.

At the Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference and Exhibition earlier this month, the city was awarded the 2022 Municipal Excellence Award in public safety for cities under 25,000 people.

The award helps recognize the efforts of the city to provide effective methods of protecting the populace and was given to Port Lavaca due to its creation of a mental health officer position. Officer Clinton Wooldridge, the current mental health officer of Port Lavaca, was there to accept the award alongside the City Council, Port Lavaca Finance Director, and Fire Chief.

Port Lavaca has seen a decrease in time and costs related to incidents regarding mental illness since the creation of the new position earlier this year and has since been able to better serve those suffering from mental illness as well. Wooldridge, an officer with nearly 40 years of experience and extensive training on the subject, has made strides in serving those often overlooked.

“I am thankful to our city leaders for their investment in serving the overlooked and unheard in our community,” Wooldridge said. “This past year has been the most rewarding of my 39-year career, and I am blessed to be able to do my part.”

Winning one of TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards is a major achievement for any Texas city, as they are only given to those cities that not only meet the rising challenges of municipal government in the state but to those that also display exceptional innovation, problem-solving, management, and citizen participation. Composed of over 1,174 cities, the TML hosted over 3,300 officials at its last conference in San Antonio, where they gave the awards alongside lessons on ways to govern more effectively, discussions of critical issues, and sharing best practices.