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BPD Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell, 23, of Lumberton. Photo courtesy of BPD. -
Beaumont Police Department Chief James Singletary speaks at a press conference Sunday Aug. 9 -
BPD press conference -
BPD press conference
Beaumont Police Chief James Singletary was a solemn figure at the Sunday afternoon press conference held to share more information about the officer killed in action today before dawn.
The officer was identified as 23-year-old Sheena Yarbrough-Powell of Lumberton. Officer Yarbrough-Powell was sworn in January 2019 and married months later in October 2019.
“It’s a sad day for the Beaumont Police Department,” said Singletary. “One officer was transported to the hospital with severe injuries, but is stable. He underwent surgery early this morning, but has a long road to recovery. We will be with him every step of the way. Unfortunately, his partner did not survive her injuries. Officer Sheena Yarbrough Powell, the 23-year-old Lumberton native was hired by the Beaumont Police Department as a police cadet in 2018.”
Around 2:30 a.m., two BPD officers were traveling Northbound on Cardinal Drive when they were struck head on by a Ford Mustang traveling the wrong direction, according to police. The sole occupant of the mustang was transported to a hospital, but officers at Sunday afternoon’s press conference couldn’t comment on the identity or condition of the driver.
“There is no doubt that it’s an extremely difficult time to be a police officer, but it’s also an extremely important time to be a police officer,” he said. “Our officer and dispatchers have done a remarkable job during this difficult time, but we are hurting.
“The next few weeks, months and years will be difficult for Sheena’s family – both blood and blue. We will get through this together, with the help of our community. I would like to say thank you to the State Trooper and the Department of Public Safety for responding and leading this very, very difficult investigation in the crash. I would also like to thank the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Lamar PD for stepping in and answering our calls for service while most of our officers were at the scene of the crash.”
Singletary asked for the community to pray for Sheena’s family, as well as the BPD family and their extended first-responder family.
“Our paths often cross, so this loss is hard for them, too,” he said. “We have already started to feel an outpouring of support from the community, and it means more than you could possibly know.”
There will be more information released as the department plans to honor Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell.