Good Morning, it is hard to believe that we are already in the month of October and the final quarter of 2020. I think that we all can hardly wait to get this year behind us, so we can move on. 2020 has been a tough year on many fronts. From the quick on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic to the horrific effects that it has had on our older and at-risk populations, to the closing of schools, colleges, houses of worship, gyms, businesses and of course, quarantines and stay at home orders. 

Many of us never were able to take a vacation due to travel restrictions and the unknowns of exposure to flying and other forms of public transportation. Many people found themselves working from home while the most unfortunate, found themselves with no job at all. Add a few significant storms and a hurricane, a couple of highly controversial National incidents, and you can quickly see how hard this year has been on communities across the country. While pretty much every household had been directly impacted by the effects of this year’s events, we here at the MVPD have seen how much pain our community has suffered.

Each week in the VLINC report I include a recap of the significant crime events that have occurred. What I do not include, are the stories of the long-term effects of the pandemic and the pain and the suffering that it has had on our area families.  From increases in family disturbances and friction due to stay at home orders or in some cases, of quarantine, and worrying about elderly parents and grandparents and the inability to see them. Then there is the reductions in income or even unemployment. Many of our residents are business owners and corporate executives who also worry about their employees. Our medical professionals are working long hours, and also risk personal exposure to themselves and their families.  As we respond to calls for service, we see and truly understand how challenging this year has been and continues to be.

One area that often gets overlooked is mental healthcare. The effects of the pandemic along with everyday pressures can become overwhelming. It does not matter if you are the head of a household, business executive, homemaker or a student, these are trying times for everyone. There are things that we all can do to help manage the current crisis. First, remember that you are not alone. We are all in this together. We have seen increases in anxiety, as well as increases in depression. The effects vary based on individual situations and personalities, but there is hope, as there are things that everyone can do to help.

Should you be experiencing these types of challenges, start with taking care of yourself. Eating healthy, getting fresh air, sunlight and exercise all helps to establish a strong foundation. Interaction with relatives, friends, co-workers and others through social media, phone calls or even old-fashioned letters or cards can help brighten up someone’s day. A simple walk around the villages can do wonders, especially now with the cooler weather. A smile and a wave to a passerby will make both of you feel good. As houses of worship reopen, attending a religious activity can help in re-energizing your faith. 

Sometimes you can try everything, and it just does not seem to be enough. This is where friends and family come in. If you either see or sense that someone is having issues in dealing with stress and or the pressures of today, offer to help.

One of our Police Commissioners did some research and identified professional mental healthcare services that are available for residents of Harris County and the Villages. He put together the following list that he asked that I share with you.

• "Harris County" - Offers local mental health care services that are available 24/7. Services can be accessed by dialing 211.
• "Crisis Intervention" - Offers free confidential consultation (anonymous) crisis and suicide prevention 24 hours a day.  832-416-1177
• "Chapelwood United Methodist Church" - Has a program called "Stephen Ministries".  They have 40 trained and certified members.  Stephen Ministries are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation.  They are local community members.
• "Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church" - Offers professional counseling to members and the community.  Individuals facing issues that may seem insurmountable like anger, anxiety, loneliness, guilt, low self-esteem.  They focus on teaching coping strategies.  713-490-0931
• "National Suicide Prevention Lifeline" - 800-273-8255, 24/7.  They offer an Intensive Outpatient Treatment and Services. 

These five resources, in our area, provide tremendous support for anyone in crisis.  Additionally, more information about “Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak” can be found at:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/current-events/supporting-your-emotional-well-being-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

We have a great team of first responders, and we assist our employees with their mental healthcare as we realize that no one is immune. Mental healthcare is nothing to be afraid of and should not be kept in the shadows. Talk with your family about mental health and the challenges of today. Remember that help is only a phone call away whether it is one of the phone numbers above or from us at 713-365-3700, we do care.   Let’s get through this year, a vaccine is around the corner, the election season will pass, and the economy will rebound. Our parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression and World War II and taught us how to get through tough times. This is our generations international crisis that we will defeat, and come out as they did, better, stronger and even more resilient.

Yesterday, we hosted first responders from across the area for a full day of Drone training. We had expected about 50 people to attend when we began to plan the event. 72 registered which had Officer Boggus scrambling to fit everyone into the training matrix in order to meet social distancing guidelines. Then yesterday morning, 93 showed up.  Needless to say, Larry was just a little stressed. He was able to quickly rearrange the teams and split up the training obstacle course area creating additional space so everyone could participate.

The children at a nearby preschool got a blast out of watching the drones fly one of the obstacle courses and a visiting pilot found himself giving an impromptu presentation. A great time was had by all. (See attached photo) A special thanks to the Memorial Villages Police Foundation for hosting the event and to the residents who volunteered their time to help with registration, lunch and even lending the use of their vehicles to be used in scenario training.  The only snafu that we had was someone on the Houston side of the Bayou saw one of the US Coast Guard Training mannequins in the water and called it in to HFD. The team performing that scenario was very impressed thinking that the Houston Fire Department was a part of the event. Luckily, we were able to notify the HFD before they jumped in the water to save the dummy.

Have a great weekend. Chief Ray Schultz rschultz@mvpdtx.org

Weekly Crime Report

Hunters Creek

9/26/20 at 1400 Hours. 600 Block of Voss. Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering the villages from S. Voss. Officers were nearby and quickly located and stopped the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle stated that he had been asked to repossess the vehicle by his boss. The driver did not know the name of his boss and no one answered the phone that he stated was his bosses phone number.  The driver had no paperwork and had not followed any regular repossession protocols and did not know what they were.  Officers took possession of the vehicle had had it towed. The driver was identified. Detectives are following up to determine if the truck was stolen as per a request from the DA’s Office.

9/30/20 at 1200 Hours. 8400 Block of Katy Freeway. Possession of a Stolen License Plate. Officers were advised of a vehicle displaying stolen license plates driving in the area by the ALPR system.  Officers were nearby and located the vehicle in a parking lot of a business. The driver of the vehicle was located and claimed that he did not know that the plates were stolen, and someone must have changed the plates on the vehicle. The driver was also found to have outstanding warrants for his arrest. The warrants could not be confirmed due to COVID-19 protocols by the issuing agency. The stolen plates were seized by MVPD officers. Suspect information was obtained, and detectives notified to follow up on the investigation. A case file will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for review and determination of charges.

Piney Point

9/26/20 at 1915 Hours. 1 – 100 Block of Windemere. Criminal Mischief. Victim reported that a delivery driver had struck and damaged his mailbox and was being slow to respond in making repairs. A report was requested to assist with the process. A report was completed.

9/29/20 at 1815 Hours. 11200 Block of Tyne.  Fraud/Identity Theft. The victim reported receiving notice in the mail of his first payment being due on his new CARES ACT Small Business Administration Loan. The problem was the victim had not opened or applied for a loan. Further investigation found that a loan had been obtained using the victim’s personal identifiers. The institution was notified, and the victim is following up checking on his credit report. Detectives have taken over the investigation. 

Bunker Hill

9/30/20 at 1630 Hours. 11200 Block of Valley Star. Fraud/Identity Theft. The victim’s employer received notice that a claim for unemployment had been filed on his behalf with the Texas Workforce Commission. The problem is the victim is still employed with the company and has not been laid-off. Information about the claim was obtained and provided to detectives who are working with the TWC on the investigation.