KPD answers questions about crime and police issues in the town hall | Crime

Deputy Police Chief Jeff Donohue initially said that despite widespread misconceptions, crime in Killeen has actually decreased compared to previous years.

“I've been here for almost 32 years,” he said. “And it's never been better.”

Donohue claimed that Killeen is growing rapidly and that this sometimes has a negative impact on cities, but in his opinion that does not seem to be the case in Killeen.

He said the most important thing residents can do is help police.

“We can't be everywhere all the time,” Donohue said. “We have to work together. Many communities don't understand that.”

He mentioned that the Real Time Crime Center, a project recently approved by the Killeen City Council, will soon be operational.

Part of this program accesses city-owned cameras as well as cameras owned by private citizens who register with the KPD through the KPD Connect program to monitor criminal activity in real time and investigate crimes that have already occurred.

“We have almost 300 cameras registered,” Donohue said. “We're already seeing some benefits.”

He said larger cities like Austin have programs similar to the real-time crime centers, but Killeen will be one of the first in Central Texas for a city of its size.

Donohue mentioned that the KPD, like other cities, had some problems with recruitment, but that they were working on that.

Sandra Minor asked about homelessness and whether there had been an increase or decrease in homelessness.

Donahue said the department conducts an annual study on homelessness, but the problem is that even though it is very obvious to people, it is not easily solved through policing.

“It looks like there are a lot more than there actually are,” he said. “Homelessness is a very, very difficult thing.”

But he also explained that this does not always have a big impact on crime.

“You can't get yourself out of homelessness by getting arrested,” Donohue said, explaining that most crimes related to homelessness are misdemeanors like trespassing and are generally minor in nature. “They cause other problems: trash, disease… Most of them don't go out to rob people.”

Donohue mentioned that there is a KPD unit called the Homeless Outreach Team that specifically focuses on combating homelessness.

Denmica Eugene said she lost her daughter to gun violence and is now working at the state level to address the issue. She said she is a member of an organization called Moms Demand Action, which works to combat gun violence.

She asked how they involve young people in crime prevention activities.

Donahue said the Killeen Explorers target youth in their teens to 20s, giving them training and letting them wear uniforms. “It's a very successful program,” he said. “It's a great opportunity.”

He said about 10 to 20 people participate in the program at a time, but that the city of Killeen offers a variety of other programs through Parks and Recreation.

Lt. Lou Griffin suggested that people should become more involved in the community so they can “pay attention to little things” to prevent crime.

Donohue said people usually don't want to get involved until they are victims themselves, but he said people should be proactive. He suggested getting involved in neighborhood watch.

He said that when it comes to juvenile crime, it is often too late when the police intervene.

Eugene also asked if they could address the issue of gun violence, which she said is increasing nationwide.

Donohue said they are primarily concerned about illegal weapons, rather than those acquired legally. He said illegal weapons are most often stolen from cars.

Minor asked whether the Texas state legislature's lifting of the youth curfew had had any impact on crime or benefit to the city of Killeen.

Griffin said it was the “worst thing the state legislature has done to us.”

Donohue agreed, saying that when young people are out after 11 p.m., they are usually up to no good.

Solomon said after the meeting that he would consider holding more town hall meetings in the future. The District 2 councilman said this was the first town hall meeting he had held in North Killeen.

Cobb suggested during the town hall meeting that “education should be incorporated into National Night Out,” a national police awareness day held in Killeen in October.