The Southwest Management Committee – Chinatown Security Task Force meeting was held at the district office conference hall on May 1st (Wednesday) at noon. Board members David Peters and Lin Fugui, Public Safety Director Victor Beserra, Chinatown Security Council Chairman Jonathan Shih, HPD Westside Substation Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Lui, S.E.A.L Security Team Captain Thomas Robinson, Fujian Association President Chen Yiliang, property owner Gene Feigelson, and members of the public attended the meeting.
During the public proposal discussion, Chen Yiliang stated that in early March, he was subjected to a police inspection and breathalyzer test, suspecting the police of excessive enforcement. He described how he had not been drinking, complied with all instructions without resistance, yet was handcuffed and taken into a police car and sent to the Fifth District Jail for a blood test. He repeatedly requested a Chinese translator to accurately understand the contents of all the documents he was asked to sign; he was not allowed to answer the numerous phone calls from his worried family past midnight, nor was there any notification given to his family. The blood test results later proved no alcohol was present, yet his driver’s license remains suspended without any notification or return process.
Officer Jonathan responded that HPD officers are well-trained and must follow enforcement procedures. Whenever they pull over a vehicle due to a violation or suspicion, if they detect the smell of alcohol, further tests such as eye gaze tracking, walk-and-turn, one-leg stand balance tests, and breathalyzer tests will be conducted. Since the body naturally metabolizes alcohol, these procedures usually do not exceed 2 hours. If the tests fail, based on the protocol, a blood test will be conducted; furthermore, regarding phone usage, it is not allowed to prevent the possibility of ambushes or calling for help scenarios. Jonathan stated that all cases will be documented, with officers wearing body cameras to assist in understanding and verifying the specific circumstances to see if it may escalate into a formal complaint.
Jonathan Shih responded to the case by saying, “Based on my understanding of Texas law, if you refuse to comply with roadside inspections, it will automatically result in the suspension of your driver’s license,” and he can assist in getting some clarification from the arresting agency in the Fifth District. Lin Fugui expressed gratitude to Chen Yiliang for his courage in sharing the case, which is important for the community. He mentioned that educating the public on how to prevent such situations and assert their rights is vital. This underscores the importance and value of the monthly meetings – the more voices heard, the more communication opportunities, striving for a better future for the community, urging everyone to actively participate in community affairs.
NTD Media inquired about the follow-up development on the proposal to increase personnel at the Chinatown patrol station. Officer Jonathan responded that HPD still remains at 5000 officers, and in the rapidly growing and diverse population of Houston, understaffing is a concern. Additionally, with recent dispatch of some personnel to assist in resolving “cold cases,” although it does not affect holiday police deployments, the manpower remains inadequate. Gene Feigelson reported incidents of strangers putting up stickers in malls without permission.
During the meeting, Jonathan Lui and the S.E.A.L Security Team separately reported crime and incident statistics in the Southwest district. The committee discussed the upcoming gun safety seminar and legal safety lecture activities scheduled for June. Host Jonathan Shih announced that the next monthly meeting will be on June 6th (Wednesday), welcoming public participation.