College Station police, fire departments give annual report to city council

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - The College Station City Council heard annual updates from College Station police and fire departments at its meeting on Thursday.

College Station City Council talks economic incentives, Northgate plans

These updates primarily consist of data and statistics addressing topics such as call volume, response times and types of calls.

It’s a way for city leaders to see how their large investment into public safety paid off over the year.

College Station Police Department Update

In 2024, the College Station Police Department (CSPD) received 89,142 calls for service.

According to the department’s crime statistics, burglary of a vehicle was the most common with 379 calls.

“We have a problem with the community, at times, leaving their doors unsecure on their vehicles, and that leads to allowing burglars in,” police Chief Billy Couch explained.

Chief Couch also highlighted a newer program he said is seeing big success: The Air Operations team.

The team uses drone technology to do things like accident reconstruction and tracking down suspects on the run. Drone footage of some of those instances was shared.

This is also the first time CSPD has spoken publicly since 11 officers and the City of College Station were named in a federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit stems from the execution of a search warrant in February of 2023 that led to police killing 22-year-old Mark Hopkins.

Following the presentation, a community member did speak about the lawsuit.

City staff advised against further comment as the lawsuit is ongoing.

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College Station Fire Department Update

The fire department serves double duty within our community as it also handles emergency medical service (EMS) calls.

The College Station Fire Department (CSFD) received 11,640 total calls for service in 2024, the majority of which were for EMS.

Fire Chief Richard Mann noted what he called a concerning rise in the amount of car wrecks from last year.

“In 2023, motor vehicle accidents were our fifth most common call. Last year, they moved up to our fourth most common call type,” he explained.

Looking toward the future, the fire department is getting ready to break ground on its seventh fire station.

Chief Mann said the design and development phase is around 95% completed.

They’re expecting to break ground this April.

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Code Enforcement in Older Apartment Buildings

Another conversation that took place during the workshop portion of the council meeting addressed older apartment buildings in the city that have fallen behind on code compliance.

Photos of some of the properties were shown, highlighting issues such as overflowing trash, exposed studs, and faulty utilities.

The city identified six ‘problem’ properties in the presentation, naming two specifically.

Between the two properties, Director of Community Services Debbie Eller said more than $20,000 in fines have been paid and 200+ summons have been sent since June 2022.

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Rejection of Bids for Northgate Surface Lot

By a unanimous vote, the College Station City Council voted to formally reject all purchase bids for the surface lot behind the Dixie Chicken in Northgate.

Last month, council voted in a split decision to not sell the lot to Capstone Communities for development into a high-rise student apartment complex. The bid requirements also included things like ensuring those parking spots are moved and building a police substation.

Council is unable to select a ‘winner’ from the two remaining bids and must reject all of them. If they want to attempt to sell the lot again, a new request for proposals must be issued.

Currently, the city is holding public meetings to continue work on the Northgate Small Area Plan, working on ideas to develop the area while preserving its historic charm.

Creation of a Legislative Engagement Committee

Another item receiving a unanimous vote from council was a resolution establishing the City of College Station Council Legislative Engagement Committee.

The committee will focus on following the state legislature and developing legislative priorities that reflect the interests of the city.