Belleview Police Chief: “Drugs Are Here In A Big Way”

By Bryce Abshier

During a recent City Commission meeting, Belleview Police Chief Terry Holland presented a department update to the commission. “Our daily activities are steadily increasing. It is hard to believe that we have between 7 and 13 mental cases that have to be Baker Acted each month,” Chief Holland explained.

Chief Holland went on to describe a drug overdose that the department had dealt with earlier on that very same day. It occurred at the Circle K convenience store on SE Abshier Blvd. “(We) narcanned him twice and had to start CPR on him. Saved his life, he is at the hospital now. But it is weekly occurrence,” said the chief. “The drugs are here. I know we like to think of our little quiet community, but the drug situations are here, and they’re here in a big way.”

In the month of March, 2023, Belleview police issued 123 citations, handled 34 traffic accidents, along with 7 Baker Acts for mental health. The department also made 13 misdemeanor arrests and 9 felony arrests during the month.