What an unusual year 2020 has been. If I asked you to describe the year in one word, I think pandemic, bizarre, crazy, disruptive, social distancing, or divisive might be common responses. And I have probably used those words myself when discussing 2020.
When gathering my thoughts for this column I selected thankful, appreciative, caring and supportive as adjectives to describe 2020 from my viewpoint as the chief of police in Bee Cave.
This time last year we were focused on a recently completed facility needs assessment that recommended a new police facility and location. Although that remains a need, the planning has come to a halt, hopefully to be resurrected when the economy establishes a new normal.
And a new normal is what COVID-19 has thrust onto all of us this year. In early March, the first two COVID-19 cases were reported in Travis County, with one of those being tested at a medical facility in Bee Cave. That same weekend we had our first report of an officer being in contact with a person who was living with a COVID-positive individual. We learned later the circumstances were not as presented, and we had a sigh of relief and at the same time a wake-up call that we were not immune from this pandemic or from the rest of Travis County or Texas.
Within the Police Department, we gathered the best information we could to ensure our officers and the residents we met were safe and protected. With a small department housed in a small building with close contact, following the recommended protocol was of paramount importance. When you provide 24/7 coverage you can’t afford to have multiple employees out for an extended time. Thankfully we have avoided that scenario and hope that continues.
But there have been some close calls. Six officers have been tested after having come into contact with one or more persons who later tested positive. Some of those contacts were under arrest and were in close contact with the officer. Those officers were tested and sent home for isolation and thankfully returned to work without a positive test.
Law enforcement is a stressful and dangerous job, no matter what department you work for. And our officers and their family members understand the inherent dangers in police work. But the stress of catching a virus with no known cure and little information on treatment was something none of us had experienced. And the stress placed on those officers and their family members added to the stress on the individual officer.
Early on we competed with the general public for supplies, everything from Clorox wipes to hand sanitizers, N95 masks or other face coverings that were in short supply. Of course, Bee Cave residents came through and began donating to make sure we had what we needed. Thus, we are thankful and appreciative for being guardians of a community as supportive and caring as Bee Cave. Supply has now surpassed demand and we are covered.
Officers began wearing face coverings on all citizen contacts and that continues today. We took more reports by phone but continued to respond in person to most calls for service. We enforced orders from the county judge and the governor, even when confronted with violators who believed the orders were infringing upon their rights. And officers have continued to report to work. As essential personnel, any stay-at-home order did not apply to first responders.
Officers also have families, and some of those officers have children or live with others who are considered vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions. And they have continued to come to work each day, encountering people from all walks of life. I am thankful and appreciative to every officer who has gone above and beyond in providing caring and supportive response to our residents and visitors.
And 2020 not only brought us a global pandemic but civil unrest in many cities, Austin included, over incidents of police use of force. During the height of the protesting and unrest in Austin, we had reports of planned criminal activity in Bee Cave that did not come to fruition. We are again thankful for the level of public trust we have been able to maintain in Bee Cave, and although we had inquiries from concerned residents about our preparedness and our training, we were confident we would be able to handle any incidents in our city.
We were impressed when a small group of female Lake Travis High School students organized an event in support of Black Lives Matter. One Sunday afternoon, adults and high school students wrote the names in chalk on the sidewalk in front of the Bee Cave library for victims or individuals who had been shot by police. Our officers interacted in a supportive and caring way with the organizers and those who stopped by to watch or participate.
As we close out this year, I wanted to give a mention to each Bee Cave officer who I am thankful, appreciative, supportive and care for. Lt. Vincent Montez, Lt. William Pitmon, Sgt. Guadalupe Navarro, Sgt. Joseph Sanchez, Sgt. Ryan Halley, Sgt. Keith Howard, Sgt. Joe Reidl; senior police officers John Paul Meiners, Stephen Moring, Alex Martinez, Scott Olson, and officers Scott Rosenbaum, Garrett Hawkins, Matthew Stevko, Maria Katayama, Shayne Castro, Guadalupe Navarro Jr., Aaron Bruns, records clerk Kate Cargill and Chaplin Jimmy Roquemore. And we are thankful and appreciative for their families who support those officers. May you have a safe holiday season and a better 2021.
Gary Miller is the Bee Cave police chief.
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