Police, residents bowl together in hopes of striking out crime

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a rivalry going on this afternoon at Armadilla Lanes in southeast Houston.

Resident Jessie Brown says, "I like the event because it gives us a chance to bowl with them and get to know them."

The goal is to bring the community and HPD patrol officers all onto one team.

Annie Wilson has lived in the southeast side of the city for 40 Years she says, "I used to think they were inhuman because they had that uniform on but after I got to know them individually they are human, they bleed, they cry, just like I do."

fficer Trenesia Harris is with HPD's Southeast Patrol Division and says, "We've seen it, it works. They are our eyes and ears in the neighborhood so once they see something and let us know and we go out and handle it." Officer Harris came up with the idea five years ago. "You know opening up those lines of communication," says the twenty year veteran.

The "Bowl Over Crime" Event is an opportunity to get to know one another and share crime prevention tips. Officers also distributed Burglary of Motor Vehicles (BMV) report cards in the parking lot, looking for personal belongings left in plain sight, unlocked vehicles and windows left cracked open or rolled down. Police say these all serve as enticement for thieves.

Lorraine Ogundana took part in the bowling event. She says, "I think it's good to support the community because the police force is always there when you need them and they put their lives on the line." She joked with Eyewitness News

Photographer Mike Menchaca making sure he got her strike recorded for the broadcast story and asking, "Did you get that one?"

no matter the score on the board at the end everyone felt the event was a win-win for police and the community.

For more information, visit HPD's website at and click on the "Get Informed" tab.