Chief Birbeck provides update

Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck has made quite the impact on Olney, Tx. Birbeck is coming up on a year in July of serving as the Police Chief thus far, and we sat down with him to get updates about the city of Olney.

Birbeck discussed a variety of topics concerning Olney, including the narcotics situation. “We have really tried since July when I got here to focus on that,” Birbeck said. “We have made substantial progress. The community from the feedback we’ve gotten, is feeling the changes in town and that the crime is not as predominant or in your face as it was six months ago.” The Chief states that they have made some very good arrests in the area of narcotics, including where the sources are coming from, as well as collaboration with other state and federal agencies. Opportunity thefts have also started to decline, according Birbeck—doing more focused patrols. “In the month of February, we had an arrest for almost every day in the month,” Birbeck added.

The Olney Police Department now has a full staff—including now having a full-time criminal investigations detective, which will focus more on thefts, burglaries, etc…where these investigations should lead to more arrests in the future. It is also worth noting that there is a police presence at Olney ISD now as well. “That was one of my first missions was to get a police officer on the campus and to make sure our children are protected,” the Chief added. The City Council has also assisted the Olney Police Department in hiring a code enforcement company to assist in code enforcement. Birbeck continues to be transparent with the community and wants its citizens to know that you can come to him with a problem and that he will give you a direct answer to try and solve a problem or issue, with simple communication. “I am happy to meet with any citizen who has any concern with anything.” Birbeck knows of the struggles in past years in Olney and wants to make the town a place to be proud of. “My goal is to make the police department something that the citizens of Olney are proud of and it is not a burden to them.”