The Beaumont Police Department’s Resource Unit is a unique, multi-faceted unit, tasked with a wide variety of assignments. The unit’s mission is to reduce crime by eliminating "havens" of criminal activity that are hidden from the view of law enforcement, such as abandoned or condemned structures. This is accomplished by demolishing and removing these structures and/or areas, throughout the city of Beaumont. The Resource Unit, AKA, The Demolition Unit, is a long standing, joint operation between the Beaumont Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

Since it’s inception, this collaboration has resulted in the demolition of over a 1000 structures in the city of Beaumont, that otherwise, would have probably not been torn down, due to budget constraints. These structures are, or have been, the site of criminal activity, or potential criminal activity.

The program uses inmate labor, provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. These inmates are screened and deemed as lower risk, non-violent prisoners and are guarded and closely supervised by a Beaumont Police Officer and a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy, both of which have extensive law enforcement experience. The unit also has a Community Resource Specialist, who operates the prisoner transport bus, handles equipment issues and assists the officers as needed.

This unit has saved countless taxpayer dollars by using the inmate labor not only for demolition, but for community clean-up, city and county projects and disaster relief efforts, following hurricanes Rita, Humberto and Ike.

The Beaumont Police Department is one of very few departments in the country that maintains and operates a unit that fights crime and saves tax dollars in this manner.

Officer Karr has been with the Beaumont Police Department 23 years and has worked in numerous patrol assignments, serving as a Field Training Officer, K-9 Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Firearms Instructor and holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate.