Georgetown Police Chief on Violence Against Police

Info from Georgetown Chief of Police regarding posts and emails circulating on the net as provided to Councilman Steve Fought and published in his newsletter.

"I have reviewed the correspondence that is circulating. Currently, officers are feeling the stress of national events combined with working in a new normal regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

Officers felt the reality of the job this last fall when two of our officers were shot in the line of duty. We received overwhelming community support. More recently, a vehicle with two teens shot at the police station while driving NB on DB Wood Rd as one of our Sergeant's happened to be pulling out of the secured parking. No one was injured and we were not able to determine whether they were shooting in the air, at the building, or targeting an officer.  We later discovered that the teens were friends of the suspect that ambushed our officers in the fall, which may explain their motive.  They were promptly arrested. A few weekends ago an officer attempted to stop a fight in Blue Hole Park. She met passive resistance from a few subjects fighting and sustained minor injuries as she tried to separate those fighting.  She was seen at the hospital for precautionary reasons, was promptly released and was back on duty. Most recently, this past week an officer's take home vehicle was vandalized in his driveway. We do believe this single incident (vandalism) was in response to national events/protests and we are actively investigating.  

 

None of these incidents are related other than described.  We are simply in a perfect storm. We had a shooting, which is difficult for any agency as it brings home the importance of training and the dangerous realities of the job we have chosen. Then the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the events resulting from the death of George Floyd. Officers are stressed. I don't know any department that isn't fatigued right now.  

 

However, we do have overwhelming support from the City Manager, the City Council, and the community at large.  Despite ongoing events elsewhere, the City Manager, with Mayor/Council support, is proposing funding for the second Phase of PSOTC in FY2020/21, which includes our firearms training facility. 

 

I would ask you to pass along...if you'd like to show support for the officers and want to show your support - drop off a card, note, cookies, or send me (Chief) an email of support so I can share that with the troops.  These gestures go a long way. All they see in the media/social media is the negative. We do enjoy overwhelming support here in Georgetown and most officers understand that."