Brownwood Police Chief

LETTER TO THE EDITOR,

I JUST FINISHED READING THE TWO ARTICLES REGARDING THE BROWNWOOD CHIEF OF POLICE RACE IN THE SUNDAY ( APRIL 21, 2002 ) EDITION OF THE BROWNWOOD BULLETIN AND HAVE QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS.

AS STATED, CURRENTLY WE HAVE BROWNWOOD POLICE OFFICERS WEARING EXPIRED BULLET PROOF VESTS. QUESTION: WHO IS LIABLE IF ONE OF OUR OFFICER’S VEST FAILS AND THE RESULTING FAILURE CAUSES THE LOSS OF LIFE TO THAT OFFICER ?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING SUCH ITEMS AND WHY WERE THEY ALLOWED TO EXPIRE OVER A
YEAR AGO ?

HOW DO THE OFFICERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES FEEL ABOUT THIS
SAFETY ISSUE ?

REGARDING THE ISSUE OF PATROL OFFICERS (CRIME DETERRENT ) ON THE STREETS OF BROWNWOOD. HOW MANY PATROL OFFICERS DO WE HAVE ON THE STREETS PER SHIFT ? I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE NUMBER IS 3 TO 4 AND THAT THIS NUMBER HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 1996 EVEN THOUGH BROWNWOOD’S CRIME RATE IS UNDENIABLY HIGH ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS SUBMITTED BY OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 2000. HERE ARE THE NUMBERS !

CITY CRIME RATE PER 100,000

BROWNWOOD 7,505.5
STEPHENVILLE 3,514.7
WAXAHACHIE 4,856.6
EL PASO 5,439.1
SAN ANTONIO 7,233.9
DESOTO 4,200.0
FREDERICKSBURG 2,217.4
AUSTIN 6,327.7
MARBLE FALLS 3,930.3
EARLY 2,287.1
GRANBURY 5,681.5
HILLSBORO 5,135.3
FT WORTH 7,298.5
ABILENE 4,230.6
SAN ANGELO 5,220.0

SOURCE: 2000 CRIME IN TEXAS,THE TEXAS CRIME REPORT - UCR
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR 2001 BEEN REPORTED ?

I’M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE MOBILE DATA TERMINALS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE CARS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS WITHOUT PRODUCING A SINGLE REPORT FROM THEM. IS THIS “BECAUSE OF Y2K OR SOME SUCH THING” AS OUR POLICE CHIEF STATED ?
I’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ! SEEMS LIKE SUCH A WASTE OF BOTH TIME AND MONEY WHICH TRANSLATES TO LESS TIME FOR PATROLLING !

I WOULD HOPE THAT THE BROWNWOOD PRESS WILL SEE FIT TO ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS OF OUR TWO CANDIDATES FOR POLICE CHIEF. THIS COMMUNITY’S INSURANCE RATES ARE AFFECTED BY OUR HIGH CRIME RATE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN A VERY PROGRESSIVE MANNER. CRIME & CRIME RATES ARE A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

AS WE ALL WORK FOR MAKING BROWNWOOD A GREAT AND SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT, THESE QUESTIONS MUST BE ADDRESSED AND DISSECTED FOR HONESTY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CLARITY. ANYTHING LESS WOULD BE A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AND DERELICTION OF DUTY.


REGARDS,
STEVE HARRIS