Crockett council hears March public-safety reports, police describe juvenile 'squirting' incidents and vehicle burglaries

The Crockett City Council reviewed its police and fire department monthly reports at the start of the meeting. A police department representative (speaker 6) reported that in March the department had 16 officers who worked 2,766 hours, responded to 466 calls for service, investigated 16 traffic accidents, made 38 arrests, issued 353 traffic citations and completed 66 reports.

On a recent unusual call, the presenter said officers investigated reports of a subject 'riding around town, squirting our citizens with what everybody believed to be water.' The speaker said Lieutenant Bell led the investigation and that by late morning officers had identified four male juveniles from another city and had contacted their parents. 'No one was injured in that, but just kind of an uncomfortable feeling not knowing what you're being sprayed with,' the police department representative said.

The presenter also told council members the department has about eight vehicle-burglary calls under investigation; some evidence was recovered and video surveillance is being reviewed. The report noted 22 alarm calls in March, 18 of which were false alarms.

The police presenter also informed the council the department recently lost Lieutenant Lonnie Long, who had been with the department for a little over 20 years; the presenter said the family would hold a private celebration in keeping with Lt. Long's wishes.

Separately, a fire department representative (speaker 7) reported 43 calls for March, saying roughly one-third occurred inside the city limits and 13 calls were in the surrounding response area. The fire representative said there were no structure fires within the city limits during March and that the department assisted another agency on one county call.

Council members did not take formal action on the reports; the items were presented for information and to allow members to ask questions.