On Tuesday, March 5, Officer Lew Hatch was recognized by Whitesboro’s Interim Police Chief Rob Sherwin for an excellent job at organizing the Whitesboro Police Department (WPD) property and evidence room.
According to the agenda, when an arrest is made or a case is worked on, the evidence received is logged and retained in the property and evidence room until each individual case is either heard by the Grand Jury and/or completed. The state has very strict laws regarding the manner in which property and evidence is stored and the amount of time it is kept. The agenda states that many times, departments toss items in the property and evidence room and those items are left there for years. It was pointed out that some of the items Officer Hatch removed from the property and evidence room had been in the room for over 27 years.
Officer Hatch attended a training class on proper management of the property/evidence room. He was able to take what he learned and apply it by building a process for handling the WPD property/evidence room. Hatch spent two months tagging, logging and ensuring all items that needed to be disposed of were disposed of properly. Hatch found drug paraphernalia that was later properly destroyed, and 12 boxes containing drugs and other items await to be destroyed in an incinerator in Denison in the near future. According to the agenda, there are approximately 50 rifles and 125-150 old pistols that were taken to Fort Worth by Sherwin and Hatch that were destroyed in a metal shredder in their presence. The destruction of the firearms and the use of the incinerator were at no cost to the city.
Additionally, during the process of cleaning and organizing the property/evidence room, approximately $3,000 was located that had not been claimed. City Administrator Julie Arrington confirmed the funds were deposited into the Police Department’s Seizure and Forfeiture fund. Before and after pictures were presented to the City Council. The Police Department is very proud of the work Officer Hatch has done during his late-night shift. By taking on this task while on duty, Hatch saved the city approximately $5,000 in labor fees.
“I’m so incredibly proud of the work that Officer Hatch has done with this project,” Sherwin said. “It is my honor to recognize him for a job well done.”
Also at this meeting, City Council approved the expense for the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) pool located at Godwin Park to be replastered and hydroblasted. PARD Director Penny Renfroe presented the findings of a potential hollow area. an area of delamination in the pool located at Godwin Park that must be repaired. This was discovered in January. Renfroe said the pool was completely emptied out in order for companies to take a better look, evaluate and give an estimate on the repair job to be done.
Renfroe said the pool was last replastered in 2019 and cost about $94,000. This time around, the estimate is $115,850, but includes the hydroblast as well. Renfroe said she is very comfortable and pleasantly surprised with the estimate given. Given that the pool had been emptied out, time is a factor in the matter. Renfroe said it is very important to be able to decide on a solution quickly because it is not good for the pool to stay empty for a long period of time, due to pressure beneath the pool needing to be released.
In this case, holes would need to be drilled in the framework of the pool to release the pressure and prevent water from coming up. Renfroe says the work, once started, may take a matter of days to complete. Repairs will be done by Allison Landscape & Pool.
Next, Renfroe spoke about all the programs that have taken place at PARD. The spring season has brought the annual Father/Daughter Dance, a Spring Children’s Workshop, an annual Art Show and the baseball season. Renfroe said the Father/Daughter Dance was a huge success, with a total of 553 in attendance. The Youth recreational basketball league was completed on February 10. PARD held registrations for the spring seasons of baseball, softball and tee ball. Deadline was Friday, Jan. 26 and player scout day was held on Feb. 17. Team drafts have already been conducted in February and teams have begun practice for the season.
