The Southwest Management Area held its monthly Chinatown Public Safety Committee meeting at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, June 5th at the District Office Conference Room (6588 Corporate Dr). Present at the meeting were Southwest District Chairman Li Xiong, Chairman of Business and Economic Development Committee David Peters, Public Safety Director Victor Beserra, Chinatown Public Safety Committee Chairman Jonathan Shih, HPD officer Luke Tram, S.E.A.L security team leader Thomas Robinson, community representatives, as well as representatives from the Office of the Harris County Precinct 4, including Alice Lee, Southwest District Executive Officer Josh Hawes, HPD Sgt. V Nguyen, and HPD Sgt. Parkerson.
First, the president of the Community Fujian Association, Mr. Chen Yiliang, made a statement regarding the aftermath of the suspected drunk driving and improper law enforcement incident that occurred in early March. After numerous inquiries and complaints went unanswered, he requested assistance in following up. Li Xiong praised Mr. Chen for speaking out and emphasized that the organization is a platform for community service that not only supports individuals but also ensures fairness for everyone, believing that the authorities will provide a reasonable answer to the public. Victor Beserra, drawing on his expertise in law enforcement, provided responses and explanations, stating that when individuals are detained by law enforcement for safety reasons, their mobile phones are temporarily confiscated until they arrive at the police station, and external contact will be based on the circumstances. The suspension of a driver’s license during the enforcement process is also a policy due to the zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving in Texas.
Li Xiong also urged people not to argue with law enforcement using the excuse of “ignorance of the law,” emphasizing that basic legal knowledge is necessary for residents of the United States, especially immigrants, who may not encounter many issues in their daily lives but should know how to handle them when they do. The Southwest District website provides HPD manuals in various languages that should be reviewed when possible.
Next, Asif Chaudhri, owner of Town Park Plaza, expressed concern about public safety issues along S Gessner near Townpark that have remained unresolved and have worsened in recent years. He noted a growing presence of vendors and various vehicles gathering from 5:00 pm to midnight every day, with vendors increasingly encroaching onto sidewalks and extending outwards. In response to the issue, Josh Hawes stated that if the matter pertains to public property on sidewalks rather than private property, it would require coordination with multiple parties, and efforts have been made in collaboration with the city government and health department, as a multi-core approach is necessary to address such situations. Additionally, HPD officers advised that providing videos or factual evidence would assist in police handling of complaints, and Officer Luke Tram assured Asif Chaudhri of assistance in the investigation and resolution of the matter.
During the meeting, the police department presented crime data from the previous month and details of cases solved, reporting 109 cases in April and 99 cases in May, along with a comparison of crime rate reduction from the previous year. Jonathan Shih called on residents to participate in community meetings and focus on upcoming gun safety activities and the RAD program. The R.A.D. self-defense course provides self-protection and defense classes for women, children, and the elderly, which will be announced via various platforms and media before the event.