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A message from the Chief

Thank you for visiting The Hitchcock Police Department Official Website. Our goal for this website and the pages within is to allow our community to quickly and easily find the online resources needed to contact us, obtain services from our department, and communicate with us. I hope you find this website inviting and easy to use. 

The Hitchcock Police Department is a full-service police agency, providing 24/7 police response to the Hitchcock Community. We also provide 24/7 emergency dispatch services for police, fire, and EMS within the city of Hitchcock. Our goal is to make Hitchcock a better and safer place to live, work, and play in partnership with the members of our community. the members of our department take a great pride in delivering a high level of service to the Hitchcock community and in do so while treating people with dignity and respect. 

We look forward to working with you to help make Hitchcock an even more special place. Please take a minute to browse the website and feel free to reach out to us if you need additional assistance. 

Sincerely, 
Wilmon C. Smith
Chief of Police

May 29, 2020

As I was driving into work this morning, I glanced up at my rearview mirror.  My eyes were noticeably red and swollen. I found myself up most of the night crying due to an extremely heavy heart. I have not felt this type of anguish, despair, or disappointment in quite some time. The tears flow as I sit at my desk and pen this message.

 In the strongest words, I condemn the police actions resulting in the death of George Floyd. My condolences are extended to his family and friends. I grieve with his loved ones, as they mourn his untimely and senseless passing. I pray that there will be a heightened awareness within the law enforcement community for and toward the citizens we are sworn to protect.

This job is often stressful and that stress can be magnified when life and death decisions hang in the balance. Going forward, I pray that all Peace Officers will have the courage to intervene if and when they observe misconduct. I pray they will have the fortitude to be accountable and hold their peers accountable for their decisions and conduct. Most police officers serve because they have a passion for the job and they genuinely want to help citizens in their respective communities. I pray for the continued support from the community for Law Enforcement personnel.

To the individuals who are involved in looting, I pray that they can find a productive expression for their outrage and pain. Let us honor and respect the Floyd family with dignity and unity.

I pray that we can come together and demonstrate compassion and love for one another. We are all God’s children. So, let us do what is pleasing in his eyes.


Sincerely, 
Chief Wilmon C. Smith

May 20, 2020

Recently, there have been discussions regarding the appearance and the upkeep of residences and properties throughout the City. Violations, such as junk and/or unregistered vehicles in yards, high grass, debris, trash, and dilapidated exterior structures have been noted and brought to the attention of the homeowners. These verbal discussions have resulted in limited enforcement action to address the violations. Non-compliant properties have a negative impact on property values and the City. We have been working diligently to update our City ordinances to address what has been viewed as shortcomings in our codes. Our plan is to utilize state statutes and existing codes as our guide for compliance. It is hard to be effective when working from a double standard. As we move forward, there will be a heightened sense of urgency in addressing these code violations. Our assistance is necessary to help remove these public nuisances.

Effective immediately, the police department will take a very active role in aiding our Code Enforcement Officers. Under the direct supervision of the City Administrator and Chief of Police, Code Enforcement Officers and other designees assigned to assist, will cite those who are in violation. We are seeking voluntary compliance to address these issues, so that we can continue to set a positive example for our community.

During the next 90-day period we will focus our attention in the areas listed below:
Residents with high grass, debris, trash, and dilapidated exterior structures will be given 10 days to become compliant.

For unregistered vehicles, per the Governor’s proclamation, residents will have 60 days after the pandemic is over to register the vehicle. Inoperable vehicles must be removed or repaired.
Junk/Inoperable Vehicles have been deemed detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public by reducing the value of private property, inviting crime; such as vandalism, creating fire hazards, constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, is detrimental to the economic welfare of the city by producing urban blight.

While on patrol, officers will seek to identify the locations of junk/inoperable vehicles and serve warnings to the homeowners.
This only applies to vehicles seen from the front yard.

For any questions or concerns, you can contact our Code Enforcement Officer Candie Serna at 409-986-5559.