Merkel Police Department

10/15/2026

HELP US REUNITE THIS PUP WITH FAMILY

The City of Merkel is asking for your help locating the family of the dog pictured below. We know a missing pet is a missing family member, and we would like to help this pup find the way home.

If this is your dog, or you recognize who this pup belongs to, please contact the City of Merkel at (325) 928-1347.

Please share this post to help us reach the owners. Thank you, Merkel, for looking out for our neighbors and their four-legged family members.

10/09/2026

PHONE SERVICE UPDATE

To our Merkel community:

This week, the Merkel Police Department has experienced intermittent phone service outages. We have now been advised that our office phones will be out of service for an unknown length of time. We are working with our provider to restore service as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we are still here to help. If you need non-emergency assistance or need to reach the Merkel Police Department, please call our dispatch center, operated in partnership with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office:

(325) 674-1300, Option 3

For all emergencies, call 911.

We will notify the community once service is restored. At that time, please resume using our regular office number, (325) 928-4766, for non-emergency office calls.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this interruption. Serving our neighbors remains our priority, and we appreciate your help sharing this update so everyone knows how to reach us.

Merkel Police Department
Community, Commitment, Courage

10/09/2026

City of Merkel Holiday Closure

City Hall and administrative offices will be closed Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Columbus Day. This includes the Library, Water Department, Police Department Administration, and Municipal Court.

Offices will reopen Tuesday, October 13, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We look forward to serving you!

Public safety services remain in service throughout the holiday. If you need law enforcement assistance, call (325) 674-1300, option 3. For emergencies, always call 911.

As you make your weekend plans, remember to stop by the local Farmer’s Market downtown at Melinger Park this weekend from 8 a.m. until noon! Many local and area vendors will be there, offering a wonderful opportunity to shop local, visit with neighbors, and enjoy our community.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. Thank you for being part of what makes Merkel a special place to call home!

10/06/2026

Congratulations Chief Conklin!

Please join us in congratulating LECOP Awardees 207–212! 🎉
Congratulations to these law enforcement professionals on completing the LECOP program. We are proud to celebrate this accomplishment with you!
For more information about LECOP, visit: texaspolicechiefs.org/lecop

09/30/2026

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING SAFETY
TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN

Merkel and our surrounding West Central Texas communities should prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flooding over the next 48 hours, Wednesday and Thursday, September 30 through October 1.

The National Weather Service in San Angelo forecasts multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches and localized amounts of 7 inches or more possible across the region. Rainfall will vary by location, and flash flooding could develop quickly. (weather.gov⁠)

The Merkel Police Department encourages everyone to plan ahead and use extra caution:

* Slow down and increase your following distance. Wet roads and reduced visibility make it harder to stop safely.
* Turn on your headlights and avoid cruise control. Stay focused and allow extra travel time.
* Never drive around barricades. They are there to protect you from dangerous conditions.
* Never enter a flooded roadway. Water can conceal washed-out pavement, debris, and strong currents. A familiar road can become unsafe in minutes.
* Use extra caution at night. Standing water and flooded crossings are harder to see in the dark.

If water covers the road ahead, stop and choose another route. Do not risk your life to save a few minutes. Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Monitor the National Weather Service in San Angelo⁠, along with your local news and weather outlets, for updated forecasts, watches, and warnings. Keep weather alerts enabled on your phone.

Call 911 for emergencies or immediate danger.

Look out for your neighbors, share this reminder with your family, and help everyone get home safely.

Community • Commitment • Courage
Pride in Community, Serving with Honor.

09/28/2026

🌧️ HEAVY RAIN & FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE

Merkel is forecast to receive thunderstorms and approximately 1.5–2 inches of rain beginning late Tuesday night and continuing Wednesday. The National Weather Service has also warned of a roughly 10% chance of rainfall totals reaching 4.25 inches, with isolated areas potentially receiving much more. Rainfall amounts and locations may change. The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office identifies a risk of heavy rain and flash flooding across West Central Texas this week.

Please stay alert, especially near low water crossings and roads that flood quickly:

🚗 Never drive through a flooded roadway or around a barricade. You cannot tell how deep the water is or whether the road beneath it is intact. If you encounter water over the road, stop and turn around. Don’t drown.

📱 Follow the National Weather Service in San Angelo⁠ and your local news and weather outlets for the latest forecasts, watches, and warnings.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

— Merkel Police Department

09/27/2026

🚗 National Child Passenger Safety Week | Tip #5: Check for a Loose Installation

As we wrap up Child Passenger Safety Week, the Merkel Police Department and our valued partners at the TxDOT D.R.I.V.E. Safe Coalition want to leave families with one more check to make before the next ride.

After installing a car seat, grab it at the belt path and give it a firm tug. If it moves more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back, the installation is too loose and needs to be tightened.

✅ Use the vehicle seat belt or the LATCH system. Use both only if the car seat manufacturer permits it.

✅ Follow the instructions in both your car seat manual and your vehicle owner’s manual.

Thank you for reading and sharing this week’s tips. Taking a few moments to check a car seat can help protect a child on every trip. Have a child passenger safety question? Send us a message. We’re happy to help.

Because every ride matters. ❤️

09/26/2026

🚗 National Child Passenger Safety Week | Tip #4: Use the Correct Belt Path

The Merkel Police Department is proud to partner with the Texas Department of Transportation and the TxDOT D.R.I.V.E. Safe Coalition to advocate for child passenger safety. Today, we’re checking a detail that can make a big difference in a car seat installation: the belt path.

✅ Installing a rear-facing seat? Use the rear-facing belt path.

✅ Installing a forward-facing seat? Use the forward-facing belt path.

Routing the vehicle seat belt through the wrong path can leave the car seat loose and affect how it performs in a crash.

Quick safety check: Look for the labels, arrows, or color guides on your car seat. Review both the car seat manual and your vehicle owner’s manual. Then, hold the car seat at the belt path and give it a firm side-to-side and front-to-back tug. It should move less than one inch in either direction.

Please share this tip with a parent or caregiver. Have a question about your child’s car seat? Send us a message. We’re happy to help.

Because every ride matters. ❤️

09/26/2026

STREET CLOSURE NOTICE | BADGER BLOCK PARTY

The 200 block of Edwards Street is closed now.

Beginning at 4 p.m., the following areas will also close:

* North 2nd Street to Edwards Street (Melinger Square)
* North 2nd Street to Lamar Street
* The 200 block of Edwards Street

These closures were approved by the Merkel City Council through a special use permit for the Badger Block Party. Please plan an alternate route and watch for barricades.

Vehicles that are not authorized within the permitted area may be towed at the owner’s expense.

09/25/2026

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at Merkel’s Badger Block Party tomorrow night! Join your neighbors at Mellinger Park on Saturday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. for a free, family friendly evening of live music, vendors, food trucks, and Badger pride.

Carson Jeffrey will perform with special guest the Doc Lewis Band. Come enjoy the music, visit with friends, and help make it a great night for our community!

A quick safety reminder from MPD: BYOB is allowed only in Mellinger Park and the event area designated by barricades. Please drink responsibly, keep alcoholic beverages within that area, and arrange a safe ride home. Public consumption outside the designated area may result in violations of applicable alcohol laws or local ordinances.

We hope to see you there. Go Badgers!

Merkel’s Badger Block Party is tomorrow night!

Come spend Saturday evening with your neighbors at Mellinger Park. From 6 to 10 p.m. on September 26, enjoy live music, browse a variety of vendors, grab dinner from the food trucks, and make some memories with family and friends. Admission is free, and there’s fun for the entire family!

Carson Jeffrey will take the stage with special guest the Doc Lewis Band. Whether you come for the music, the food, or simply to catch up with familiar faces, we hope you’ll join us for a night that celebrates our community and Badger pride.

BYOB reminder: Alcohol consumption is allowed only in Mellinger Park and the event area designated by barricades. Please drink responsibly, keep alcoholic beverages inside the designated area, and plan a safe ride home. Public consumption outside that area may be subject to applicable TABC regulations and local ordinance violations.

We can’t wait to see Merkel come together tomorrow night. Go Badgers!