Posted on 09/08/2005 5:44:55 AM PDT by WJHII
Centerville sends police to hurricane-ravaged area
Chief, other volunteers to help re-establish small-town police force
Tuesday night the Centerville City Council met in regular session. Councilman Robert Smith opened the meeting with an inspirational prayer for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina. Smith’s words were not the empty rhetoric of so many national politicians, but symbolized the resolve of Mayor Ronnie Brand and the other members of the City Council to help those in need. Chief Ernie Pardo, with the full support of the city government, announced that a special team from the Centerville Police Department will be traveling to Mississippi to offer direct relief and police protection to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
This heroic and dangerous operation will be led by Chief Pardo and five volunteers from the ranks of the police force. This action is being taken as part of an effort known as “Police Helping Police.”
Pardo reported that his team of volunteers would leave for Mississippi at 6 a.m. Friday for a staging area outside of Biloxi. After arriving, they will be dispatched to one of the rural areas most affected by the storm’s damage. Pardo said that the area his officers will serve has been completely devastated by the hurricane.
“These are small departments, some with just five police cars,” he said. “Everything was destroyed. They have no uniforms, police cars; all their equipment has been destroyed.”
Centerville will help rebuild the police department in the city that local authorities assign them to protect. Their mission will be twofold: Stop the rampant crime and rebuild the local police. The bravery of Centerville’s police will secure their assigned area, while the generosity of the City of Centerville will help the Mississippi police, once again, become self sufficient.
Pardo and his officers will be traveling with the Tactical Unit Trailer and several 4x4 police vehicles to the affected area. Along with their own equipment, the Centerville Police will be bringing essential equipment to the local police. Centerville is donating bulletproof vests, police lights and uniforms. Pardo said Giant Foods has donated a massive supply of fresh drinking water; while the Air Force is supplying Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs).
Two private citizens, Denise Durdin and Danny Swartlander, have donated $2,500 to help with the effort.
The City Council also addressed other police matters when they named Detective Mike Earl “Officer of the Second Quarter.” Coincidentally, Earl proved he had earned this distinction by arresting a burglary suspect earlier Tuesday, after chasing him down in a local trailer park.
Animal Control Officer Terry Wright was also commended for assisting in the apprehension of two “animals” of the human variety. Having heard a radio report of shoplifting at Belk Matthews and J.C. Penney in the Galleria Mall, Wright raced to the scene and helped arrest two suspects who allegedly stole over $2,500. This had not been the first time that Wright had gone beyond the call of duty, officials said. After the City Council meeting, mayoral candidate and former city administrator John R. Harley said that Wright had once prevented a burglary at Harley’s own home.
Other business before the council included:
• A proclamation designating September as “National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month” was read by Brand.
• A proclamation commemorating the drafting of the U.S. Constitution was read by Brand. • An ordinance for a variance request at the Maple Crest subdivision was introduced by Councilman Cameron Andrews, and passed.
• Two six-month home-based business licenses were issued to Frances Hodges and Pamela McGee.
• Brand and the City Council passed a resolution supporting the Houston County Board of Education SPLOST and urged all citizens of Centerville to support the tax in the Sept. 20 referendum.
• The City Council voted to begin the seizure of the former Jaymart property by eminent domain. City Attorney Rebecca Tydings said she hopes the matter might still be resolved with the landowner.
Letters to the editor of The Houston Home Journal may be e-mail to:mailto: rgambill@evansnewspapers.com (Please Include Your Name and Location)
William John Hagan can be contacted directly by e-mail at:William_Hagan@excite.com
Learn how to help the victims of Katrina on Mr. hagan's web blog at:
http://williamjohnhagan.blogspot.com
Great story...but one question..what's with the "rampant crime" cited in the article?
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