BEAUMONT, Texas — 2023 ended with two back-to-back murders, and Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary wants to put an end to violent crimes in the new year.
"Sure is frustrating sometimes, to see these people dying out here," Chief Singletary said.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, 34-year-old convenience store clerk Sheikh Abir-Hossain was shot and killed by armed robbers.
“This gentleman was murdered in cold blood by a thug. Our citizens got upset about that and they got motivated and within a matter of a few minutes we were getting names and nicknames and locations of the individual who may have done this," he said.
Later that night on Dec. 30, 2023, 25-year-old Rodtravian Perry, of Houston, died and four others were injured after being shot at a trail ride event.
Operation ceasefire was the 2023 initiative that helped remove violent offenders like Abir-Hossain's suspected killers from the streets.
“The largest crime initiative here in the history of the Beaumont Police Department. We arrested 268 folks, had over 80 firearms seized," the chief said.
But Chief Singletary agrees, it's not enough.
"You know you got some bad, bad people in Beaumont," he said.
He says, it's time to lower the crime rate.
“Obviously we're concerned about the crime rate and we want to lower it, and address some of the things that have been causing us most of the problems," he said.
The chief says their crime rate has remained stagnant compared to other cities.
"I didn’t think I’d ever be proud of this, but we're actually, our crime stats are basically flat. In the last 12 years violent crimes all over the country increased," he said.
The Beaumont Police Department is deploying the Fusus system.
It's marketed as a "real time crime center in the cloud."
Fusus is an open and unified intelligence ecosystem that integrates and enhances all public safety and investigations assets for law enforcement, first responders and private security personnel, according to their website.
“Its going to be a big deal for us. So we're gonna see crime as it happens. We’re going to be able to tell the responding officers what's going on as they respond to a crime scene. We think this is going to be a great deal for the City of Beaumont and Beaumont Police Department," Chief Singletary said.
Chief Singletary says Fusus can help bring justice to grieving families, such as the family of Perry.
"Gave us access to their videos and it definitely could've helped us. Because nobody's helped us right now."
Beaumont police plans to use their crime analyst to get to the root violent crimes like murder and property crimes like burglary.
Gloria Bluitt and Demetrcia Holloway both loss children to gun violence.
They are president and cofounders of the organization, Surviving Parents of Southeast Texas.
They urge people to speak with police.
"The public don't say anything. Oh I didn't see nothing. If it hit at your home would you say something then?” they said.
Bluitt and Holloway both agree, Fusus us a great way to stop violence.
"I don't wanna see my face up there. I️ don't want to go to prison. Well immediately, it needs to be done. If they are doing that its an instant I️ see you and if people know these things are being done, they'll be less likely to do stuff," they said.