The San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and regional law enforcement unveiled the implementation of a new regional crime reduction venture, the Bandit Shield Initiative, in Round Rock.

The announcement was made Jan. 30 at the Austin Telco Federal Credit Union branch in La Frontera, site of a violent robbery in August.

The Bandit Shield Initiative was developed to reduce bank robberies and to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement with their robbery investigations. Financial institutions participating in the Bandit Shield Initiative have agreed to implement a variety of “best practices” and other security measures developed to deter robberies in an effort to assist law enforcement.

This program was the brainchild of a local law enforcement task force. The Austin Telco branch is the first bank in the country to be certified. Round Rock Police Detective Shawn Scott played a significant role in the development of the program.

“The response from financial institutions to the Bandit Shield Initiative has been overwhelming,” Scott said. “We believe the Bandit Shield Initiative will serve to remind those who choose to rob banks that participating institution will not be an easy target.”     

Additionally, participating financial institutions have undertaken other innovative steps as part of this initiative to make their institutions unattractive targets for would-be robbers. Banking institutions in compliance with the Bandit Shield Initiative will be provided with Bandit Shield decals to be affixed to the institution’s doors.

Initially, the Bandit Shield Initiative will be implemented in FBI San Antonio’s designated area of responsibility, which includes the Austin-Round Rock area, and it will be considered for broader participation at a later time.