National Night Out 2023-First Presbyterian Church/Iglesia De Amor Church

Odessa, Texas/September 5, 2023-Several churches, neighborhoods, apartment complexes and organizations celebrated the 2023 National Night Out on Tuesday, September 3rd despite the early afternoon stormy weather. 

The Odessa Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue visited with residents at The First Presbyterian Church located at 1401 N. Sam Houston Ave. 

(Cambri Allison, Youth and Childrens Director-First Presbyterian Church/Odessa, Texas) 

Residents who live around or near the Church enjoyed Hot Dogs, Chips and Drinks. Kids got to see the first responder vehicles up-close. 

(Cambri Allison, Youth and Childrens Director-First Presbyterian Church/Odessa, Texas) 

Iglesia de Amor Church on 1609 W. 10th, hosted National Night at the storefront church location. Hispanic residents who live near the church came out to see the Crime Scene Mobile Lab, OPD Units and the Odessa Fire Rescue Fire Trucks and Ambulance. 

(Lizbeth Bonilla-Garcia, Pastor-Iglesia De Amor Church/Odessa, Texas) 

Iglesia De Amor Church pastors believe in the importance of having a good relationship with local law enforcement and first responders to bring the community together. 

(Guadalupe Garcia Arriaga, Pastor-Iglesia De Amor Church/Odessa, Texas) 

Several National Night Out block parties were held throughout the City of Odessa featuring a wide selection of Eats and Treats. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Texas Memorial Service 2022 2023 Honoring Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Odessa, Texas/May 21, 2023-The Odessa Police Department and the Midland Police Department held a Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, in honor of fellow officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial service also honored officers who have died in the line of duty from across the entire State of Texas, and is part of the Texas Memorial Service 2022-2023. 

(Michael Gerke, Chief of Police-Odessa Police Department/Odessa, Texas) 

Midland Police Chief Seth Herman presented a speech describing a warrior in battle and dying with honor in battle. The speech was directed at law enforcement officers, who patrol the streets protecting the residents of the community 

(Seth Herman, Chief of Police-Midland Police Department/Odessa, Texas) 

The week of May 14th – 20th, 2023, has been designated as National Police Memorial Week, and is to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Law Enforcement that have been killed in the line of duty. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center

Midland, Texas/April 30, 2023-On Friday, April 28th, The Texas Facilities Commission, Midland Health and Medical Center Health System along with Texas State Senator Kevin Sparks, District 31, Shelby Landgraf representing the office of State Representative Brooks Landgraf, District 81 and former State House Speaker-current State Representative Tom Craddick, District 82 joined members of the law enforcement community and invited guests to the groundbreaking ceremony of the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center. Due to poor weather conditions the special event was moved to the recital hall inside the Wagner-Noel Performing Arts Center. 

(Tom Craddick, Republican Texas State House of Representatives, District 82/Former Speaker of the Texas State House of Representatives) 

Project representatives appropriated $40 million in funding during a special State Legislative session in 2020. The additional funding will be raised from private donations from Midland and Odessa. Land for the project was donated by Diamondback Energy but will retain the mineral rights. The original cost of the project was more than $80 million due to rising construction costs. 

(Tom Craddick, Republican Texas State House of Representatives, District 82/Former Speaker of the Texas State House of Representatives) 

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office are the only agencies that provide mental health care to inmates. The Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center will be a much-needed facility to help law enforcement ease the burden on the costs of travel time and the safety of law enforcement officers having to transport inmate/patients out of the county to a mental health facility. 

(Mike Griffis, Sheriff-Ector County Sheriff’s Office/Odessa, Texas) 

The Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center is a mental health facility located between Midland and Odessa. The Center will provide inpatient and outpatient mental health services to individuals of all ages. 

(Russell Tippin, CEO/President-Medical Center Health System-Medical Center Hospital/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

  

Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month Ceremony at the Ector County Courthouse

Odessa, Texas/April 4, 2023-Harmony Home along with local law enforcement and first responders held the Child Abuse Prevention Awareness ceremony. Mayor Javier Joven read a City Proclamation acknowledging the endless effort by the Odessa Police Department, Ector County Sheriff’s Office and advocates for child safety to protect the children of the community from abusers. 

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Police Assistant Chief and Sheriff Mike Griffs spoke at the ceremony suggesting increased penalties for those who are convicted of child abuse. 

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

If you suspect anyone of endangering a child’s life or wellbeing, contact local law enforcement. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.  

 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(062222)-ECISD POLICE HOST SOLO OFFICER ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE TRAINING

Odessa, Texas/June 22, 2022-The Ector County ISD Police along with local law enforcement agencies engaged in Solo Officer-Active Shooter Response Training at the Whitaker Building located on the west side of Odessa High School. Officers with the Odessa Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, The Medical Center Hospital Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue participated in the training. 

(Jeff Daniels, Assistant Police-ECISD Police Department-Odessa, Texas) 

Ector County ISD has been training in Active Shooter Response events at various ECISD campuses for 20 years. 

(Jeff Daniels, Assistant Police-ECISD Police Department-Odessa, Texas) 

Local law enforcement agencies along with the Odessa College Police Department, involved in the Solo Officer-Active Shooter Response training used simulated ammunition also known as simunitions, a non-lethal, non-toxic rounds that come in different caliburs. 

(Jeff Daniels, Assistant Police-ECISD Police Department-Odessa, Texas) 

Assistant ECISD Police Chief Jeff Daniels says that Odessa and Ector County Law Enforcement agencies are very well prepared and staying prepared every day in the event of an active shooter event in an Ector County ISD school 

For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, Danny Barrera. 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(032622)-ANNUAL SUPPORT MOR BADGES HOSTED BY CHICK-FIL-A

Odessa, Texas/March 26, 2022-Chick-fil-A located at Andrews Hwy and Loop 250 in Midland and at the Chick-Fil-A located on east 42nd street, and at Faudree Rd and Hwy 191 in Odessa hosted the annual SUPPORT MOR BADGES, and is the kick-off fund raising event to BUSTIN’ FOR BADGES clay Shoot at Wind Walker Farms in Martin County.  

(Cpl. Steve LeSueur, Community Relations-Odessa Police Department) 

Funds raised from the SUPPORT MOR BADGES benefit the Ector County Sheriff’s Office in Odessa; the Midland County Sheriff’s Office; the Midland  Police Department, and Odessa Police Department. 

(Sgt. Lorenzo Dominguez, Community Relations-Midland Police Department) 

(Sgt. Edelmira “Ede” Subia, Midland County Sheriff’s Office) 

For more information on how to purchase raffle tickets or how to participate in the Bustin’ For Badges Clay Shoot, go to bustinforbadges.org. 

For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, Danny Barrera.