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Seabrook police report fewer crashes, rising call volume and steps toward accreditation in 2024
Summary
Police leaders presented the department’s 2024 annual report, citing roughly 2,000 additional calls across public safety divisions, the lowest crash total in a decade, increased training and grant-funded equipment, and a projected accreditation completion in 2026.
Seabrook’s police chief presented the department’s 2024 annual report at the March 4 council meeting, reporting higher call volume, a decade-low total for traffic crashes, enhanced training and equipment upgrades, and pursuit of Texas best-practices accreditation.
City police reported an increase of roughly 2,000 calls across public safety responses and a decline in animal-control calls by about 300 compared with the prior year. The department said crash totals fell to the lowest level in the last decade; the chief credited part of the long-term decline to changes linked to the opening of State Highway 146 and to subsequent signal-timing adjustments with TxDOT at two key intersections.
The department reported a 72 percent clearance rate in criminal investigations and recent upgrades including new handheld radios, in-car hardware and body cameras intended to speed evidence access and case processing. Grants awarded in 2024 totaled about $141,000 and covered officer protective gear and an accreditation grant, the chief said. Staffing had fluctuated: the department began the year with one vacancy, finished with five vacancies, and expected to fill additional positions in the coming weeks.
The chief said the department began the Texas best-practices accreditation process in December 2024 and anticipated full accreditation by mid-2026, noting the program evaluates roughly 170 standards. The department also asked for and received public-safety program funds for drones to assist searches and structure fire operations.
Council members asked about the commercial-vehicle enforcement and truck scale capabilities; the chief said the commercial division is rebuilding after staff promotions and training and that one trained officer is actively conducting inspections on regional truck traffic.
