October 2024

Officer Harper

Beat eight encompasses a few businesses to include Bail Bond companies, Chevron gas station, Legal Services and Ducks Unlimited. Beat eight also includes the Fort Bend County Jail and Freeman Town which is a residential area. Beat eight is located on the south side of the City of Richmond. The boundary lines are everything south of Austin Street from S. Seventh St to Richmond Parkway and east of Hillcrest Drive.

This month, the City of Richmond hosted a city-wide event celebration for National Night Out, aimed at enhancing community connectivity and strengthening the relationship between first responders and residents. In Beat 8, a block party was held at Freeman Town Park welcoming the local residence.

Officer Golovine generously provided hot dogs for attendees, ensuring that no one left hungry. Mary Miller and her sorority The Order of Eastern Stars, Stars of Essence #71, contributed decorations, along with a corn hole yard game that encouraged friendly competition and interaction among community members. The Richmond Police Department brought along coloring books and police badges for the kids.

The event saw significant participation from the Richmond Administration, with Chief Craig receiving a warm welcome from the crowd, who greeted him with applause. I took the opportunity to introduce myself as the new Beat Officer for Beat 8, encouraging residents to reach out with any needs or concerns they may have.

During our conversations, Mrs. Miller informed me about an upcoming Beat event planned for December, which will feature a toy drive and a hayride for the kids to see the Christmas lights. She expressed her eagerness to get me involved, and I was excited about another opportunity to connect with the residence.

Additionally, Mrs. Miller proposed the idea of organizing a community basketball game where police officers and firefighters could join local kids for a fun match. I loved the concept and am committed to making this game happen in November. Events such as these foster positive relationships between first responders and the youth in our community. Overall, the National Night Out event was a resounding success, reinforcing unity and cooperation in Richmond.

This month, I had a conversation with four juveniles at the skate park at the YMCA. I recognized three of them from previous calls for service. During our discussion, I learned that two of the juveniles were seniors in high school. One of the girls shared her aspiration to attend cosmetology school, and I encouraged her to pursue her dream. When I asked her about her options, she mentioned a program at Wharton Community Junior College that she was considering. I emphasized the importance of taking advantage of scholarships, especially those linked to community service, to help reduce her tuition costs.

Another juvenile spoke about working towards getting his driver’s license while also taking online classes. I encouraged him to keep pushing toward that goal and to learn as much as possible from his classes.

They also raised concerns about the skate park’s condition, noting that the pavement was in poor shape. I encouraged them to reach out to the YMCA to express their desire for renovations, emphasizing that community voices can lead to positive change.

Overall, this interaction not only allowed me to connect with local youth but also reinforced the importance of supporting their ambitions and fostering a sense of community responsibility.

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Officer Aranjin

During the month of October, I met Debra Greenwood who has resided in Beat 8 for many years. We talked about the upcoming holidays and how the neighbors in Freeman Town are preparing to get together and celebrate Christmas with the kids at the park. Ms. Greenwood advised that she does not have any concerns regarding her neighborhood.  

I then talked to Elouise Hall and she mentioned she is a widow and feels comfortable on the street she lives on. At the moment she does not have any concerns and agreed to contact us if she does.

I then talked to Sharonna who works at Success on the Spectrum on Richmond Pkwy. She was glad to hear there are two Beat Officers assigned to the Beat. Sharonna stated the only concern she has is people loitering in the area after they get released from the Fort Bend County Jail. I advised Sharonna to give the Police Department a call if there is an issue. I provided all of them my contact information and introduced myself as their newest Beat Officer.                

This month I was able to attend two National Night Out block parties hosted throughout the City of Richmond. I was able to meet a lot of new residents in the area and introduce myself to them.