Starbase Hires Cameron County To Police Its Streets And Jail Its Offenders

Starbase is simply a metropolis without a constabulary department, but not without police.

For months, Cameron County sheriff’s deputies person patrolled nan roads and beaches surrounding SpaceX’s sprawling rocket installation successful South Texas. Now, little than a twelvemonth aft Starbase residents voted to incorporate, nan metropolis has signed general agreements making those deputies its de facto constabulary unit and Cameron County jails nan destination for anyone arrested wrong metropolis limits.

The 2 interlocal deals, approved successful September and effective opening Wednesday, are sweeping. One requires Cameron County to dedicate 8 deputies to Starbase, though only 2 will patrol nan metropolis during a azygous shift.

The different sees Cameron County providing “jail services,” pinch Starbase agreeing to salary $100 per time per inmate and to reimburse nan region for further expenses, for illustration aesculapian attraction aliases psychiatric services for inmates.  

It’s a measurement of opinionated up a criminal justness strategy overnight, without having to build 1 from scratch. Such arrangements are not unheard of successful Texas, particularly for nan myriad mini aliases recently incorporated towns that whitethorn not beryllium capable to guidelines up a afloat constabulary section connected their own.

But Starbase is not a emblematic town. The organization is small, and astir of nan residents activity for SpaceX. The metropolis itself was finalized only aft SpaceX bought up aged properties successful Boca Chica Village and dispersed its launch-and-manufacturing activities further afield.

The rule enforcement statement sets up much than conscionable regular patrols. Starbase tin besides opt to salary for information during “special events” — apt rocket launches, erstwhile thousands of spectators descend connected nan mini formation municipality of Boca Chica to watch Starship’s spectacular flights.

The clause allowing other constabulary for typical events is simply a shrewd move, and it reinforces nan thought that Starbase is not a accepted municipality, but a institution municipality built astir 1 purpose: getting Starship flying — frequently.

The statement reinforces this fact. While Starbase has its ain politician and commissioners, nationalist information is carried retired by Cameron County. Body camera footage and different records stay pinch nan county, per nan agreement, and Starbase residents who person an rumor pinch nan section policing will person to return it up pinch their nextdoor neighbors. For now, SpaceX has built a municipality of its own, but nan powerfulness to enforce laws is still pinch personification else.