Burleson Police Commander Chris Havens was tapped for the Byron Black Character Award at the City of Character Luncheon in November. Havens is the sixth City staff member or City official who has been honored with the award, which is named after former Mayor Byron Black. The commander has been in law enforcement for 24 years. He was hired by Burleson in 1994. In October 2006, he was promoted to commander of the operations division. That division includes patrol, the bicycle unit, Citizens Police Academy, Citizens On Patrol, community resource officers, crisis negotiation, police explorers, honor guard, SWAT, the traffic unit, the department's holding facility, intoxilyzer operations, special events, off-duty security, the ride-a-long program, court liaisons, fleet and radio maintenance, Homeland Security, warrant service, vacation/business checks, and directed patrols. Read More 

Burleson police officers and firefighters were a vital part of the creation of a mock crash scene for Burleson High School's Shattered Dream program Nov. 27. This is the sixth time the program has been done in Burleson. Shattered Dreams involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash on or near a high school campus, complete with police and EMS response, emergency room treatment, family notifications, and the arrest and booking of the driver. The crash scene drama is played out before the student body. Today's mock crash ended in the "arrest" of a driver  suspected of driving while intoxicated, the "death" of a passenger, and "injuries" to three additional passengers. A person dressed as the "Grim Reaper" appeared periodically throughout the school day to select a new victim, who was taken out of class, made-up in white face and dressed in black t-shirts to symbolize death. Those students then returned to class. By the end of the day, every student has one or more "dead" classmates in the classroom. Wednesday, a wrap-up assembly featured the "crash" victims, the "drunk" driver, their parents, and law enforcement and medical personnel. The program closed with impact statements from community members whose lives have been affected by teenage alcohol use and drunk driving. For more pictures, go to the Shattered Dreams album on the City of Burleson Facebook page.

The bats will be cracking Saturday, Dec. 8 in a benefit softball tournament for Heart for the Kids. Burleson fire fighters and Burleson police officers will face off at noon at Hidden Creek Sports Complex, 295 E. Hidden Creek Pkwy. Admission is one unwrapped toy. This is the 12th year that the Burleson Professional Fire Fighters Association Local #4025 and Burleson Police Officers Association have hosted the event. If you can't make it to the game, the Burleson Firefighters Auxiliary has set up collection boxes for unwrapped gifts at all three Burleson fire stations. The police department also has a collection box. The deadline to turn in gifts at the stations is 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. The wish list from Heart for the Kids includes bicycles, scooters and toys for children of all ages - newborn to 17 - as well as wallets, purses and jewelry for older teens. Read More

Did you miss the 20th annual Founders Day celebration in Burleson? See it for the first time, or relive it, via video, posted on our City YouTube, City website, City Facebook and City Twitter pages! The City of Burleson and the Burleson Heritage Foundation hosted the 20th annual Founders Day celebration in Old Town Burleson on Oct. 13. The fun included an historical costume walk from First Baptist Church to the railroad tracks followed by a "homecoming" for the linotype at the Burleson Visitors Center.There were mock gunfights, an array of arts and crafts, food, games and a carnival.