Check in with Chief Dan Birbeck - Friday Briefing

Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck called on Olneyites at his Friday briefing to help a Graham Police Department officer who lost her home in a fire.

OPD Property and Evidence Manager John Vasquez is putting on a Cornhole Tournament hole Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. at the Young County Arena to help Graham Police Officer Jennifer Hudson, he said.

The registration fee is $30, and 50 percent of the proceeds will go to Officer Hudson and the other half goes to payout on the game, he said.

To register, download the Scoreholio app to register for the competition.

“The Texas Municipal Police Association will bring out their griller and provide hamburgers and food that will be available for donations and the proceeds will go to Oficer Hudson,” he said. “It’s all for a great cause and it will help this family get back on their feet.”

Chief Birbeck discussed the OPD’s track record investigating sex crimes. Since June 2020, OPD has investigated 22 sex crimes cases, resulting in 11 convictions and four that are awaiting trial.

Seven of the cases were ruled out as unfounded and 17 of the 22 involved one or more children, he said.

“I think we are on the downbill side of this. Most of these [suspects] have been convicted,” he said. “We want to make sure we put a stop to these types of crimes.”

Some of the cases involve parents who have trafficked their children, he said.

The OPD is preparing to go to trial on a case against Seth Cody Wakefield, who is accused of aggravated sexual assault of a 14 year old victim.