Brookshire police cite overtime traffic initiative; council presses for more community policing

Brookshire Police Department leaders told the city council on April 17 that a recent overtime initiative focused on traffic enforcement has produced a large number of vehicle stops, most of which were concluded with warnings rather than citations.

Police described the initiative as voluntary overtime shifts—officers may come in before or after their regular shifts or on days off—and said the stated goal was “to make our streets safer for our citizens and visitors.” Chief or department representatives said the overtime program includes a requirement that officers making overtime traffic enforcement make two contacts per hour; the department emphasized that officers are not being ordered to issue citations during overtime shifts.

One council member relayed numerous residents’ complaints that stops felt nitpicky and called for more visible community policing. The council asked whether officers still conducted outreach such as playing basketball with children or acting as community liaisons; the department confirmed the city currently had a vacancy in the community-liaison role. A council member said the city had invested ARPA funds in vehicles, rifles and tasers for the department and urged officers to increase community interactions to rebuild trust.

A community member raised the potential for dash-cam or body-cam review if residents believe they were stopped improperly; the police representative said residents could request a review of camera footage. The department also noted that some officers work extended hours and that data shown to council covered roughly a 13‑day period.

Ending: Council asked the police chief and staff to return with plans to restore community-policing activities and to fill the vacant community liaison position; the department said it would follow up.