La Porte accepts police captain's resignation; board approves vehicle partitions after incident review
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Summary
The board accepted Captain Patrick Hemphill's resignation effective Jan. 16 after 33-plus years of service and approved interior partitions (cages) for patrol vehicles following staff accounts of violent transports.
The Board of Public Works and Safety accepted the resignation of Captain Patrick Hemphill, who submitted a letter of resignation effective Jan. 16 after more than 33 years with the La Porte Police Department. Board members offered well-wishes for Hemphill's retirement.
Police leadership also brought quotes from three vendors for interior vehicle partitions and recommended a local upfitter for lower total cost when factoring shipping and installation. The board approved procurement for patrol vehicles that includes 18 Durangos, four Chargers and one pickup.
Explaining the need for partitions, department staff described a recent violent transport in which an arrestee assaulted an officer and required another officer to ride in the back seat to restrain the individual. The chief said partitions protect officers and detainees during transports and that the selected partitions combine sheet metal and a transparent polymer for visibility.
The purchase resolves an immediate equipment gap for patrol-level vehicles; additional procurement and installation logistics will be coordinated through the police and fleet departments.
