La Marque credits Safe City initiative and community policing for four‑year drop in crime; mayor pushes for new police facility

Mayor Keith Bell and city leaders credited the locally developed Safe City initiative, community policing and partnerships with county and regional law enforcement for a multi‑year drop in crime in La Marque.

"When I became mayor... conversation was about gunshots, shootings, and all sorts of violence. And then we were foolish enough to say that at some point in our history, La Marque would be the safest city in Texas... 4 years in a row, crime has been decreased," Bell said. He told the audience the police department's work, combined with the Galveston County organized crime task force and increased community reporting, helped reduce crime.

City remarks cited a roughly 15% drop in overall crime for the most recent year, a statistic Mayor Bell attributed to the police department and the Safe City approach. Bell also said La Marque has attracted more experienced officers to its force in recent years.

Bell used the address to press for a new police facility, calling the current building unsafe for officers and urging council and staff to prioritize improvements. "The Lamarck [sic] Police Department facility is unsafe to the officers, and that's why we need a new facility," Bell said; transcript spelling has been standardized to La Marque.

Officials described the Safe City approach as three pillars: law enforcement capacity, community organized policing groups that provide tips and local intelligence, and resident engagement to report suspicious activity. City leaders said the combination of these elements has made policing more efficient and effective.

No formal funding measure for a new police station was proposed during the address; the mayor urged staff and the council to support the request going forward.