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Police report arrests in serial mail thefts; council extends COVID emergency and hears fire update
Summary
Police Commissioner Jay Smyre reported arrests in a serial mail-theft ring tied to about $500,000 in losses; council extended the COVID-19 emergency order (Ordinance 21-559) and heard that fire-station renovation is on track for substantial completion Oct. 20 and that ambulance staffing remains a concern.
At the Sept. 21, 2021 council meeting, Police Commissioner Jay Smyre and Fire Liaison Councilmember Keith Brown gave public-safety updates and the council extended the city's COVID-19 emergency declaration.
Smyre reported August police activity and personnel changes, noting Commander Jones has been assigned to lead the Administrative Services Division. He said that several serial mail thieves have been arrested, one has been charged in federal court, and the department worked with the U.S. Postal Inspector; the transcript records an estimated total loss of $500,000 in the theft spree.
Fire Liaison Keith Brown summarized department activity, staffing and response metrics, and reported the Fire Station renovation is expected to be substantially complete Oct. 20. Brown said the department remained busy during Hurricane Nicholas; response times varied, five power lines were down, and one fire occurred in Bunker Hill with no reported tree loss. He noted the ambulance calls related to COVID are lengthy because crews cannot leave a patient until a bed is available, prompting the department to staff a second ambulance with overtime and consider permanent staffing.
Mayor Robert Lord presented Ordinance No. 21-559 to extend the public health emergency and state of disaster related to COVID-19 (extension language presented removed the open-meetings virtual provision and requires in-person participation for meetings going forward); the ordinance was approved 5-0. Council also designated Councilmember Susan Schwartz as its representative and Councilmember Eric Thode as alternate to the Houston-Galveston Area Council General Assembly for 2021-2022.
The council's actions were unanimous and the reports signaled ongoing recruitment needs for police and continued evaluation of permanent ambulance staffing.
