Palestine Peace Officer's Association

11/11/2024

👮‍♂️ Honoring Our Veterans on Veterans Day 🎖️

On this Veterans Day, the Palestine Police Department extends our deepest gratitude to all veterans who have courageously served our country. Your dedication and sacrifice protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.

We are especially thankful for the veterans who now serve as peace officers within our own department. Your continued commitment to both our community and our country exemplifies true bravery and dedication.

Thank you for your service, both in uniform for our nation and as protectors of our community.

The Palestine Police Administration and City Offices are closed today but will resume operations tomorrow at 08:00 A.M.

If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1.

A non-emergency? Call 903-729-2254.

11/09/2024

10/07/2024

Attention Palestine Residents:

Don’t be Alarmed!

The Palestine Police Department is currently training at 4509 W. Oak Street.

10/02/2024

Several of our officers volunteered to use part of their work day patrolling Elkhart schools out of an abundance of caution in response to a “potential threat.” While the threat was believed to be unfounded, our people wanted to dispel any fears staff and kids might have by providing an officer all day. This is what a proper threat response looks like and how local organizations should be cooperating.

09/17/2024

Several items of concern have come to our attention regarding the recent Palestine High School lockdown. There appears to be an effort on the part of PISD Admin to deflect some responsibility and imply that the Palestine PD is the only organization capable of responding to threats and therefore any action (or inaction) taken in this incident is out of PISD’s control and falls on the PPD. This is blatantly false. The first recording shared here (with permission) is a conversation between a concerned parent and PISD administrator. The administrator makes several statements during this conversation:

1. School Resource Officers do not have the same arrest authority as other Peace Officers. FALSE. They are Texas Peace Officers with full arrest authority.

2. “Street laws” do not apply in schools. FALSE. Certain low level offenses are no longer criminal in schools, such as classroom disruption. Serious offenses are still crimes in schools.

3. PPD and emergency services get notified when PISD hits the panic button. FALSE. This was previously true but no longer. PISD has been informed that the notifications stopped and has failed to correct the issue. In this incident, there was no emergency notification.

4. Nobody told anyone this was just a drill. FALSE. Refer to the second attached recording - a call made to PPD dispatch by a PISD Officer.

PISD formed their own police department because they did not like the PPD and its SRO making independent enforcement decisions. They now control their own police but want no responsibility for any results. You cannot have it both ways and our people reject any implied blame for PISD decisions.

09/17/2024

Burglary suspects in Montalba.

01/15/2024

Great work PFD!

Last night in freezing weather, challenging & slick roadway conditions, Palestine Firefighters on C Crew responded to a structure fire at an apartment complex.
Firefighters made a quick and aggressive attack and stopped the fire before it could extend and damage the entire building.
In these next days of extreme cold, know that your Fire Department, EMS & Police continue to respond to calls for service no matter the conditions outside.
Please be extremely careful and stay home if you can!

01/13/2024

January 5, 2024

Threat: Officers were dispatched to Denny’s Diner in reference to a Terroristic Threat. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting party, who alleged a subject was making threats to harm people in the parking lot. Officers learned the suspect had previously left the scene. An incident report was filed on behalf of the reporting party.

Criminal Mischief: Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Sugar Lane in reference to Criminal Mischief. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting party, who alleged that the tires on his vehicle were damaged by a cutting instrument. A criminal mischief offense report was filed on behalf of the victim.

Warrant Arrest: Officers were dispatched to the 700 block of W. Green Street in reference to Warrant Service. Upon arrival, officers located a subject identified as Gabriel Hernandez. Hernandez was found to have an outstanding warrant for Theft of Property> $2,500 with 2 or More Previous Convictions. Hernandez was taken into custody for the warrant, transported to Anderson County Jail, and booked in without incident.

Theft: Officers were dispatched to Red’s in reference to Lost Property. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the reporting party who alleged she accidentally dropped money from a cashed check. Officers checked security footage and observed a potential suspect. A theft of property >=$100= $100=$750= 1G=1G

11/23/2023

📰 PPD executes Narcotics Search Warrant 📰

Officer N. Martinez, through proactive policing and investigation, developed information that a person at 1309 N. Queen St in Palestine, TX, was engaging in the trafficking of narcotics. Using the information developed by Officer Martinez, Detective Waldon with the Street Crimes Unit applied for a search warrant for the location. Judge Amy Thomas Ward of the 87th Judicial District in Anderson County, TX, reviewed the information and issued the search warrant.

The police department’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed the search warrant on 11/21/23. As the team entered the home, a suspect identified as Alexander Hegward, 34, fled out the back door. Hegward was confronted in the backyard by Officers N. Martinez and A. Goins, who observed that Hegward threw an object over the fence into the neighbor’s yard with one hand while holding a handgun in the other hand. Hegward was ordered to drop the gun, and he reluctantly did so and was taken into custody. The item Hegward threw over the fence was recovered and identified as an additional handgun. Officer Martinez and Goins showed great composure and restraint in managing to take Hegward into custody safely.

During the search of Hegward’s residence, it was discovered that he had a surveillance feed of several areas, including the door where ERT entered, streaming on a large television in his bedroom. Also, in this room, Detectives located several ounces of ma*****na, much of which was packaged for sale. There were 41 baggies of ma*****na prepackaged in small amounts, an electronic scale, packaging materials, and approximately $2,300 in cash in the room. Detectives also located just over three grams of co***ne, less than a gram of THC extract or “dab,” and a prescription bottle of codeine syrup issued to another party, among other evidence. Hegward was transported to the Anderson County jail, where he was booked for Evading Arrest or Detention, Tampering / Fabricating Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, Possession of a Controlled Substance in Penalty Group 1>=1G

06/28/2023

Palestine Police Arrest Fleeing Suspect

On the evening of Monday, June 26th, the Palestine Police Department received an alert from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office that a Nissan Altima driven by a Black male in a white shirt had been involved in an assault on a Peace Officer and a pursuit.

Just before 11:30 P.M., Officer Goins observed the vehicle, confirmed by license plate, traveling on E. Palestine Ave. near Gardner Dr. Officer Goins attempted to stop the vehicle, which then fled.

The driver continued to evade down Gardner Dr. to highway 155. Once on highway 155, the driver attempted to turn onto the N. Loop 256 while traveling at high speed. The driver left the roadway while on the entrance ramp and crashed.

The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot onto the loop. Officer Colton McCoy gave chase on foot and took the suspect into custody on N. Loop 256.
The suspect was identified as Timothy Washington, 39, of Irving. A loaded 9mm handgun was located in the driver's floorboard of the vehicle, along with a drug paraphernalia and synthetic urine.

Washington was transported to the Anderson County Jail and booked on charges for Evading Arrest/Detention w/ Vehicle-Previous Convictions, Evading Arrest Detention w/ Previous Conviction, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, Possession of Ma*****na, Possession of False Drug Test Falsification Device, No Driver's License and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Washington was later served with warrants from the original offense in Cherokee County.

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