Alvin Police Chief Robert Lee had street crime and patrol officers conduct driver's license checks in areas known for drug sales or have seen an increase in burglaries. Officers would stop every vehicle to ask for a driver's license. If the driver has a license, they move on. If there are any potential problems, an officer will deal with it.
The program is just one part of his strategy as a new police chief to increase visibility and deter crime. However, Lee says along with some positive feedback, he's gotten some complaints as well.
"The intent of the program was to make people feel safer in their neighborhoods because we're targeting areas where there's been drug activity and crimes," Lee said. "What it's seeming to do is scare people, citizens themselves. And that's not what I'm wanting, I'm not one to make people more afraid. I'm wanting to make criminals afraid, not the average citizen."
We know immigrant rights organizations sent a letter to the chief voicing their concerns about this program.
Lee says he's suspending the program until he can hear more feedback from the community via public form.
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