Just because the neighborhood is quiet does not mean there is nothing else you can look for to help the neighborhood out. C.O.P. is the eyes and ears of the Beaumont Police Department but we can also be the eyes and ears of the city as well. The city only has a finite amount of personnel and equipment. We can help the city utilize these resources to the fullest to better serve your neighborhood and the Beaumont Community.

Look around; are there any other problems in the area that need to be addressed? Here are a few of things you can look for when out on patrol. Below will include a list and description of common neighborhood issues that you as a patroller can find and report to help improve the area. Remember, these issues are not only for your immediate area but are for all of Beaumont. So if you are out patrolling others neighborhoods be sure to help them out by reporting these things as well. SOLUTION:

These are some of the more frequent problems that the ordinary citizen not only encounters but also can do something about in the area. Remember, we are to observe ONLY. So, make a report of these problems and address them to the proper authorities.

A note regarding the city: the city will address some of these issues but be patient. Anything pertaining to private property the city must first send out a written notice giving the owner 30 days in which to solve the problem. So, after submitting any of the issues mentioned below to the city give about 5 weeks before re-contacting the city with the same issue.

 

OBSERVATION: There is water standing on the street or flowing over the curb when it hasn’t rained in a while and no other water is visible on the street or area.

POSSIBILITY: This sign could be as easy as your neighbor leaving his water hose on. Or it could be the sign that a water main has possibly burst. The water is coming from somewhere. If there is no sign of obvious watering going on in or around the area of water then assume that is coming from an underground pipe.

SOLUTION: If it’s late at night this could be as simple as your neighbor might have forgotten he left his sprinkler or hose running. You could give him a call and let him know. Identify your self as the citizens on patrol, tell him you were checking out the area and thought as a courtesy you would make him aware and were trying to save him some money.

If no watering is visible, call the cities water and sewage division and report it. They can send someone out to check it. Remember, as taxpayers we are paying for that clean water that is flowing uninhibited down the street and into the sewer. This act could save the city much of its needed money that could be spent on other resources in the community.

The city department responsible for broken water lines is Water/Sewer Maintenance which is under the main umbrella of the Public Works Department. They may be contacted at:

Jerry Shadden, Superintendent
1350 Langham (77707)
Phone: 409-866-0062
Fax: 409-860-4672
 

 

 

 

OBSERVATION: The street is awfully dark and without headlights it would be very difficult if not impossible to see.

POSSIBILITY: There may be streetlights out in the area. If there are streetlights on make sure tree limbs are not covering them. Maybe this is a street with very little lighting and in need of streetlights or additional streetlights.

SOLUTION: Contact Entergy to let them know that the streetlight is out. If contacted and given some way to distinguish in the daytime which polls light is out, Entergy is very good about replacing bulbs/lights. Most patrollers’ carry a roll of red ribbon and tie it around the poll. This will let the repairman distinguish the problem in the daytime. All you will have to give is the street and block number.

Entergy also spends millions every year trimming trees, contact them and let them know that one of the lights in your neighborhood is being occluded by tree limbs and again, distinguish the light so it can be addressed in the daytime.

If a street lacks enough streetlights you may have to get the neighborhood involved. Entergy will install lights according to public demand; you may have to organize a petition or some other form of support to get Entergy to put more lights in an area.

The best way to get in touch with Entergy is through their "Street Outage Fax Form". Click HERE to download a printable copy of the Entergy "Street Outage Fax Form".

 

 

OBSERVATION: There are quite a few stray animals in the area.

SOLUTION: Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 5-20 states:

"It shall be unlawful for any dog to be at large within the city. Any dog on the streets, alleys or public places or on private premises not under the control of the owner, possessor, keeper or harborer of such dog within the city shall be considered to be at large in violation of this section, except that a dog being under the control of a person by means of a leash of sufficient strength to hold such dog shall not be deemed to be at large. A person who owns, possesses, keeps or harbors any dog that is found at large shall be in violation of this section."

Contact the cities animal control to make them aware of the problem.

Animal Control
1884 Pine (77703)
Daniel Parker, Supervisor
Phone: 409-880-3794
Fax: 409-838-3324
 

 

OBSERVATION: It’s quite late at night and there are an awful lot of minors out on the streets.

SOLUTION: Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 9-3 states:

"(a) It shall be unlawful for any minor to knowingly remain in or upon any public place, or to remain in any motor vehicle operating or parked therein or thereon, or to remain in or upon the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours for minors.
(b) A parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, encourages, or by insufficient control allows a minor to remain in or upon any public place, or to remain in any motor vehicle operating or parked therein or thereon, or to remain in or upon the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours for minors.
(c) The owner, operator, or any employee of any private establishment or the lessee of any public facility commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, allows, or encourages a minor to remain in or upon the premises of the establishment during curfew hours for minors.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person (including any minor) to give a false name, address, date of birth, or telephone number to any officer investigating a possible violation of this section.

Curfew hours for minors (17 & under):

Sunday-Thursday
11:00 p.m. to 6:00a.m.

Friday & Saturday
12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Just call the police dispatch at 832-1234 to inform them of the situation.

 

OBSERVATION: I’m seeing many overgrown lots/yards in the area.

SOLUTION:  Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 13-50. states:

"(a) It shall be unlawful and constitute an offense and creation and maintenance of a public nuisance for any person, firm, or corporation who shall own or occupy any lot or premises to suffer or permit weeds, grass or uncultivated plants other than trees to grow upon such lot or premises within one hundred (100) feet of the property line of developed property to a greater height than twelve (12) inches on an average.

You should contact Neighborhood Services a division of the Beaumont Clean Community Department to report these offenses. They will need the address in the case of a house or the hundred block number in the case of a lot:

 

Neighborhood Services
4955 Lafin Road(77705)
Mack Mitchell, Jr. Coordinator
Phone: 409-840-4872
Fax: 409-840-9925

 

 

OBSERVATION:  I found graffiti on a wall in the area.

SOLUTION:  Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 18-28. states:

"If the chief of police or his designated representative determines that the graffiti is located on a publicly or privately owned structure on public or private property within the city and is visible from any public place or public right-of-way then the chief of police or his designated representative may provide for the removal of the graffiti at city expense if:

(1) The structure is owned by a public entity other than the city and removal of the graffiti is authorized with the consent of the public entity having jurisdiction over the structure; or

(2) The structure is privately owned and the city obtains consent and waiver of liability from the owner; or

(3) The owner of the property cannot be found or will not respond to notification by the city.

You should contact the Beaumont Police Department to report this kind of offenses. They will need the address in the case of a house or the hundred block number in the case of a lot:

Beaumont Police Department
255 College Street(77701)
Frank Coffin, Police Chief
Phone: 409-832-1234
Fax: 409-880-3844

 

 

OBSERVATION: There are many dilapidated houses in the area.

SOLUTION:  Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 14-52. states:

"(1) If, after inspection by the chief enforcement officer or his designee and support inspections from other concerned departments or divisions, if necessary, a determination is made that the building is a dangerous structure, the owner shall be ordered by a certified letter to contact the chief enforcement officer within fifteen (15) days from the date of said letter. The owner shall be ordered, by letter, to repair, remove or demolish said structure within thirty (30) days.

(2) If a permit to repair, remove or demolish said structure is not obtained from the housing and neighborhood conservation department and repairs, removal or demolition are not completed within forty-five (45) days of the date of the letter provided for in subsection (1) above, the chief enforcing officer shall give notice, by letter, to the owner of said structure to appear before the city council to show cause why said structure should not be demolished and at the cost of the owner.

(6) If, upon hearing, the city council finds that the building or structure is in violation of section 14-50 hereof, the council shall order the structure to be razed, removed or repaired at such time and under such conditions as the council may, in its discretion, stipulate at said hearing. Such owner or agent shall forthwith comply with said order of the council, and any owner or agent of such building or structure failing to comply with such order within the time therein stipulated shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided in this Code. If the owner obtains a permit and voluntarily demolishes his/her structure under this program, such owner shall be exempt from payment of the landfill disposal fee for the debris resulting from such demolition.

The city department who sends out the chief enforcement officer is Clean Community. They may me contacted at:

Clean Community
4955 Lafin Road(77705)
John Labrie, Director
Phone: 409-842-1483
Fax: 409-842-1722

 

 

OBSERVATION:  I see some missing street signs.

SOLUTION:  Contact the Transportation Department and give them the hundred block number and street as well as what sign is missing and they will replace it.

 

Transportation Department
1350 Langham (77707)
Joe Majdalani, Director
Phone: 409-866-0026
Fax: 409-860-4672

 

 

OBSERVATION:  There are many houses with missing house numbers.

SOLUTION:  Beaumont City Ordinance Sec. 23-2. states:

"It shall be unlawful for any person who owns a residence, business, house or other building in this city, or for any person who resides in a residence in this city, to fail to number such building with a plain and visible house number, or to fail to number such building correctly, so that the number of the same conforms to the plan adopted by the city."

Contact the Public Works Department and inform them of the street and house violation.

Public Works
Tom Warner, Director
801 Main Street(77701)
Phone: 409-880-3725
Fax: 409-880-3732