Starbase is a city without a police department, but it is not without police protection. For months, Cameron County sheriff’s deputies have been patrolling the roads and beaches surrounding SpaceX’s sprawling rocket facility in South Texas. Now, less than a year after Starbase residents voted to incorporate, the city has signed formal agreements making those deputies its de facto police force. Cameron County jails will also serve as the destination for anyone arrested within the city limits.
The two interlocal deals, approved in September and effective immediately, are comprehensive. One requires Cameron County to dedicate eight deputies to Starbase, though only two will patrol the city during a single shift. The other sees Cameron County providing jail services, with Starbase agreeing to pay one hundred dollars per day per inmate and to reimburse the county for additional expenses like medical care or psychiatric services.
This is a way of establishing a criminal justice system overnight without having to build one from scratch. Such arrangements are not unheard of in Texas, especially for the many small or newly incorporated towns that may not be able to establish a full police department on their own.
But Starbase is not a typical town. The population is small, and most residents work for SpaceX. The city itself was finalized only after SpaceX bought up old properties in Boca Chica Village and expanded its launch and manufacturing activities further afield.
The law enforcement contract sets up more than just routine patrols. Starbase can also opt to pay for security during special events, which are likely rocket launches. During these events, thousands of spectators descend on the small beach town of Boca Chica to watch Starship’s spectacular flights.
The clause allowing extra police for special events is a shrewd move. It reinforces the idea that Starbase is not a traditional municipality, but a company town built around one purpose: getting Starship flying frequently. The agreement reinforces this fact. While Starbase has its own mayor and commissioners, public safety is carried out by Cameron County. Body camera footage and other records remain with the county per the agreement. Starbase residents who have an issue with the local policing will have to take it up with the county. For now, SpaceX has built a town of its own, but the power to enforce laws remains with someone else.