CITY & COUNTY
News from Missouri City, Sugar Land & Fort Bend County
Missouri City police chief retiring after 34 years
Fort Bend County seeks $450K grant to improve public transit
"I SHALL ALWAYS REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE’S JOURNEY WITH YOU." MIKE BEREZIN, MISSOURI CITY POLICE CHIEF
BY JACK DOWLING
MISSOURI CITY After 34 years, Police Chief Mike Berezin is retiring. Berezin’s retirement from Missouri City was announced in an April 19 news release from the city and by City Council at its regular April 17 meeting. Berezin was hired as a patrolman in 1989 and rose to chief of police in 2014. According to the release, Berezin spearheaded former President Barack Obama’s Task Force Report on 21st Century Policing. Berezin has put a focus on community involvement and engagement between the police and community. During his time as chief, Berezin developed the department’s first police mini-station; established the initial motorcycle traffic enforcement unit; promoted transparency for Missouri City police policies and procedures; and published a comprehensive annual report, the release stated. “I shall always remain grateful for the privilege of sharing my professional life’s journey with you,” Berezin is quoted as saying in the release. Berezin’s last day as police chief will be May 19. The city did not state who will serve as acting chief.
BY ASIA ARMOUR
FORT BEND COUNTY The county hopes to collaborate with U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, to upgrade its public transportation system. At an April 11 meeting, commissioners committed a $90,000 local match to a $450,000 grant for an updated scheduling and dispatching system for Fort Bend Transit in support of the grant application. The grant would provide vehicle tracking, automatic passenger counters, Wi-Fi, passenger notifi- cations, and IT training and support. Project documents from Pamela LeBlane, public transportation finance and admin- istration manager, show the transit system provides over 400,000 trips annually. The system was last updated in 2008, and “lacks efficiency, reliability and speed of current technology,” per project documents. If the county gets the award, upgrades will happen between January and August 2024.
Berezin’s retirement comes as Missouri City faces its lowest retention rates in decades as well as a 19-person officer shortage due largely to noncompetitive pay. According to a study from the Missouri City Police Offi- cers Association, the city pays approximately $10,000 less than other area cities for starting positions. The city squared the blame as a national problem in an April 6 news release, citing a 2023 survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum that found an 18% overall increase in resignations in 2020-21, compared to 2019-20. At a May 1 meeting, Missouri City City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordi- nance providing 17%-20% salary increases to police and firefighters. The ordinance will move forward with a second and final reading during a May 5 special meeting, after press time. If approved, the new pay plan will go into effect May 7. Renee Farmer contributed to this report.
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