LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
At the Aug. 18 Chrisman City Council meeting, Police Chief Tom Dolan stressed a message that he said cannot be repeated enough: when something suspicious happens, residents must call 911 right away rather than confronting individuals themselves or reporting the situation hours later.
The reminder follows an incident that took place on the first day of school at Chrisman Elementary. According to Dolan, a person was seen taking pictures of children as they were leaving the building. On its face, the behavior was unusual and concerning, though not necessarily illegal. Instead of contacting the police, however, a resident confronted the individual. The person offered what Dolan described as “an architectural explanation” before leaving quickly.
Unfortunately, the delay in reporting left officers with little to investigate.
“I had an officer right around the corner at the time,” Dolan told the council. “If we’d received the call when it happened, he could have driven around and at least made contact. Instead, over an hour passed before we heard about it at City Hall.”
By that time, any opportunity for identifying the person or collecting potential evidence was gone. Although officers were able to track the vehicle through license plate camera technology, the vehicle was registered to a company based out of state. The lack of timely information made it impossible to confirm who the driver was or why they were near the school.
Dolan emphasized that residents put themselves at risk when they take matters into their own hands.
“Because they confronted the person, he left and took any evidence with him. Even if a crime had been committed, there’s not much we could have done,” he said. “If people call immediately, many times we’re literally right there and can act.”
This is not the first time Dolan has urged residents to use 911 instead of reporting suspicious behavior later. He said this marked the fourth time in recent months he’s raised the issue publicly.
“People have got to call when it happens,” Dolan said firmly. “We just have to continue to let folks know. Call 911. Don’t wait.”
In addition to safety concerns, Dolan also updated the council on ongoing efforts to address the community’s complaints about junk and abandoned vehicles around town. He acknowledged that the process is slow and sometimes frustrating, but stressed that the police department must carefully follow legal procedures to avoid liability.
“When it comes to vehicles or junk on private property, even though the ordinance says we can remove it, federal law creates conflicts,” Dolan said. “We don’t go onto property without a judge’s signature. That protects the city and protects us.”
The department has been making contact with vehicle owners to encourage voluntary compliance. Dolan said most residents are cooperative when given time, but citations will soon be issued to those who fail to act. He also recommended that the council review and strengthen the city’s junk ordinance to provide clearer definitions of what qualifies as “junk.” Current language leaves room for debate, with Dolan noting that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Updating the ordinance, he said, would give the city “more authority and more protection” if challenged in court.
Dolan further suggested raising fines to make them meaningful, since current penalties are so small that violators are not motivated to comply. He also raised the idea of requiring licenses for residents who claim to be buying, fixing, and reselling items, which sometimes blur the line between a hobby and operating an unregulated junkyard.
“These are steps we can take to get better compliance and protect the community,” he said.
From school safety to community clean-up, Chief Dolan’s message was clear: Chrisman residents play an important role in helping police do their jobs effectively. Whether it’s calling 911 immediately when something suspicious happens or following ordinances on property upkeep, public cooperation can make the difference between resolution and frustration.
“We can’t do it alone,” Dolan said. “But with quick reporting and clearer rules, we can keep Chrisman safe and looking good.”