The Chief meets weekly with his Executive Command Staff, which is composed of the department's Executive Chief, Executive Assistant Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Deputy Directors. Marin then shot him, resulting in his death. Lieutenants and above may also be referred to as commanders. Troy Finner, a 30-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, became HPD's new leader this April . In 1982, Mayor Kathryn J. Whitmire was elected the first female mayor of the City of Houston and appointed Lee P. Brown as Chief of Police, who was the first person of color appointed to be Chief of Police and the first to hold a Doctorate. He was sentenced to two years of probation and agreed to surrender his Texas peace officer's license. "[47], Chad Holley was a sophomore at Elsik High School at the time of his arrest in March 2010 as an alleged burglary suspect. In November 2007, HPD newly formed Crime Reduction Unit hit the streets targeting Class 1 crimes. Studies released in February 2006 indicate that Safe Clear has been successful during its fledgling year. Each officer was issued one uniform per year. Counsel members were hoping to hire a new chief from within the rank and file of the current police department. Before becoming a police chief, he was a member of . Brown's appointment was controversial from the start. Previously, he was the chief of police of the Houston Police Department, Austin Police Department, and Miami Police Department. This is the official twitter account for the Houston Police Department. Supervisors may also be appointed under certain circumstances to act in the next higher rank during an absence from duty of their supervisor. Complaints against members of the Houston Police Department may be initiated in person to a supervisor at any police substation throughout the City of Houston, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The early part of the 20th century was a time of enormous growth for both Houston and for the Houston Police Department. Since 1992, the Houston City Marshal's division, Houston Airport Police, and Houston Park Police were absorbed into HPD. Later that year, Houston purchased its first police car, along with the formation of the city's first traffic squad to help maintato Houston's bustling streets at that time. HPD headquarters, 1200 Travis, is in Downtown Houston. This move sparked controversy because he was originally the Chief of Police from San Antonio. Free from any physical defects or deformations. [13], At the beginning of the year, HPD's Theft Division acquired access to Leadsonline,[55] a privately owned online database of pawned merchandise to tap into the databases of the city's 133 pawnshops, junk yards, and thrift stores, as well as across the country. houstonpolice.org Joined August 2017. . The Airport Police department and City Marshals were merged into the HPD. [37] However, that rank ended when he left in 1969. July 18 Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos has called for the establishment of an emergency city-county DNA lab to dispose of thousands of untested cases. Masters of Criminology, University of Houston-Clear Lake. However, that analyst was fully reinstated to her previous position in January 2004, less than one month after her December 2003 termination. It has been considered a success because of the amount of property recovered and arrests made and has been said that it has more than made up for its $90,000 cost.[56]. In 1967, a civil rights protest at Texas Southern University turned into what police say was a riot. [57], In August 2013, Officer Darrin DeWayne Thomas pleaded guilty to theft of $700. Stations are operated and staffed 24 hours a day. All pilots and tactical flight officers are sworn Houston police officers. HPD's jurisdiction often overlaps with several other law enforcement agencies, among them the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County Constable Precincts. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who gained a national profile by criticizing President Donald Trump and marching with George Floyd protesters, has resigned to lead the Miami Police Department. Chief Caldwell reintroduced the issuance of. [citation needed]. In 1939, the department proudly presented its first police academy class. January: Harris County District attorney Chuck Rosenthal announces plans to retest DNA evidence from hundreds of cases. Troy Finner was born in the 5th Ward area of Houston. At the beginning of the First World War, there were two military bases in Houston. March: Josiah Sutton, convicted with faulty DNA evidence, is released from prison after serving more than four years for a rape he did not commit. In 1900, The title "City Marshal" was changed to "Chief of Police", however it remained an elected position. Officers were permitted to wear light weight long sleeved shirts. December: HPD suspends DNA testing after an investigate report and audit. Chief Art Acevedo. In 1954, Chief Jack Heard was appointed Chief of Police. As of September 2015, M1911 pistols in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP are authorized for uniformed officers as well as 9mm and .45 ACP versions of all previously authorized pistols. . A budget crunch in major Texas cities is partly to blame where municipal budgets are usually slashed including priority spending for first responders. They were turned to. These store fronts are not staffed 24 hours a day, and generally open at either 7:00 or 8:00 AM, and close at 5:00 PM. But it held that the Act did prohibit non-classified employees from supervising classified employees. Professional Development. The helicopter division patrols about a 700-square-mile (1,800km2) area. In the same year, the first female matron was hired and the name of the force was changed to "The Houston Police Department.". @ArtAcevedo. On October 6, 2007, allegations arose of employees cheating on an open-book proficiency test. [2] The first African American woman police officer on the force, Margie Duty, joined the HPD in 1953, starting in the Juvenile Division. This account is NOT monitored 24/7. The livery on HPD squads (with a silver shield on the front doors which has 'HOUSTON POLICE' and the 'RADIO PATROL' above the shield) was phased out where a white stripe with red inserts were phased in. The New York Times asked the question, "Worst Crime Lab in the Country?" After 47 days in office, Mayor Lanier announced the replacement of Chief Watson with former HPD Deputy Chief Sam Nuchia who was then serving as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Houston. These agencies employed 59,219 sworn police officers, about 244 for each 100,000 residents. It was also during 1997 that then Governor George W. Bush signed into law the new "meet and confer" legislation for the Houston Police Department. Bulletproof vests were also introduced to the rank and file and an initial purchase of 30 were made. The Missing Persons Division was established. NY - Apr 13, 2023. Claunch, who was mentally ill and confined to a wheelchair, threatened a police officer with a ballpoint pen. This is a list of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. state of Texas.. Troy Finner With the election of Robert "Bob" Lanier in November 1991 and his swearing in ceremony two months later, he pledged to put the equivalent of 655 additional officers on the streets of Houston. With the increased use of the police radios, a PBX operator was hired to handle police calls. On January 6, Officer Michael P. Roman (#5068) was killed in a vehicular accident on 3800 N. Main when his vehicle was struck by driver who failed to yield the right of way of an emergency vehicle and was charged with the violation. Some of the retired "baby blue" cruisers are sold at auctions with all police equipment stripped and returned to be reused in other cruisers. [18], A voter referendum during the 2010 Texas gubernatorial elections to eliminate red-light cameras passed. The new facility was equipped with the latest security system and would house 2,200 employees. On September 21, twelve-year veteran Houston Police Officer. As the capital city of the Republic of Texas, it quickly grew, and so did the need for a cohesive law enforcement agency. On January 20 of that year, Mayor Whitmire announced that Deputy Chief Elizabeth "Betsy" Watson as the new Chief of Police making her the first female to hold that position. 1988: In 1990 Chief Brown left Houston to be the Police Commissioner for the New York Police Department. Total force was 1,337 officers patrolling 446 square miles (1,160km. Staffed by traffic enforcement officers patrol within the loop clearing traffic problems. The purchase of 47 new police cars, which doubled the size of the fleet. Each division is divided into one or more districts and each district is divided further into one or more beats. Hubert Arturo Acevedo (born July 31, 1964) is an American police officer who is the interim chief of police of the Aurora Police Department as of December 2022. Houston officially has a new top cop. The following list also contains officers from the Houston Airport Police Department and the Houston City Marshal's Office, which were merged into HPD.[when?][41][42][43]. December Carrol Lynn appointed to Chief of Police. [21], Hurtt spent around $24 million on overtime pay through 2010. However, Aimpoint electronic optical sights are still allowed. The cameras were expected to be reactivated after midnight on July 24, 2011; plans were underway to have this judicial ruling heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.[19][20]. Ashworth quickly instituted the following changes: In 1945, The Houston Police Officers Association (HPOA) was established. The Houston Police Officers Memorial, designed by Texas artist Jess Moroles, opened in 1991 to honor the duty and sacrifices of members of the department. Injuries due to negligence or minor injuries not requiring hospitalization are not eligible. Jenkins and Frost, I'm Frank Hamer, Abilene:State House Press, 1993.44,print, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education, Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) Squad, automated fingerprint identification system, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, "Houston 101: An Earlier Time When Shots Rang Out At TSU", "Ex-Police Chief Sentenced in Extortion Plot", Giddyup with HPD The Houston Police Department's horse unit is a valuable public relations tool, Houston DNA Review Clears Convicted Rapist, and Ripples in Texas Could Be Vast, HPD crime lab worker out; 200 cases in doubt, "Some workers accused of cheating on proficiency test; inquiry launched", "HPD: Crime Lab Employees Cheated on Open Book Test", Red-light cameras', million put to use on police force, New system alerts HPD to vehicles linked to crimes, Latino officers' suit alleges HPD race bias, New vehicle gives HPD more protection at SWAT scenes, HPD again shuts down crime lab's DNA unit, City planning to sell off buildings, build new HPD complex, HPD academy fires cadet accused of stealing money, Police getting plenty of catches using bait cars, HPD will have 5,000 officers for first time since 2005, HPD urges stores to register under new security rules, Convenience Stores Ordered To Increase Security, A brake on crime Rigged cars come with one-way ticket to jail, New HPD property room called 'dream come true', New Property Room Erases Police Problems of Past, Two convicted in death of HPD Officer Canales, Police say rape suspect may be tied to slayings, Houston police create new domestic violence unit, Police using database to watch pawned items Listing helps locate thieves and stolen property, Activists seek federal probe of police shootings, New Police Chief, New Airport Director for Houston, New HPD Chief McClelland no stranger to obstacles, HPD's High-tech center helping solve crimes, Officers Allowed to March in Gay Pride Parade, New Houston Police Station Opens its Doors, New police station opens in southwest Houston, Backlog prompts Lykos to call for emergency DNA lab, "Red-Light Cameras To Be Turned Off Voters Decided To End Red-Light Program", Homicides in Houston continue 5-year decline, "HPD Chief: Cutting helicopter hours will not compromise public safety", "Citations to start going out for red light runners", "Mayor: Houston's Murder Rate Hits Historic Low in 2011", History of Houston Police Department at ERIC: Education Resources Information Center, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_the_Houston_Police_Department&oldid=1118702856, History of law enforcement in the United States, History of organizations based in the United States, Articles with dead external links from February 2013, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [citation needed] Around 2016 the Houston Chronicle revealed that some of the older squads are still in service but the breakdown rate has increased - a 100,000 mile marked squad (or 120,000 mile unmarked vehicle) has the life expectancy of an automobile with 300,000 miles with regular maintenance. HOUSTON - The Houston Police Department said Sunday that it has two new assistant chiefs. Tests showed he had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. Internal Affairs, Organizational Development Command, and Support Services Command report to the Executive Chief. Trejo was fired from the department. With 16 helicopters, the division is the third largest air support unit in the United States after the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Lee Patrick Brown (born October 4, 1937) is an American politician, criminologist and businessman; in 1997 he was the first . As a result, Chief Short declared that any citizen of Houston or HPD would not be denied access to any public street. In November 2002, the CBS local TV station KHOU began broadcasting a multi-part investigation into the accuracy of the HPD Crime Lab's findings. The Bill Blackwood Institute, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), at Sam Houston State University provides free continuing education for heads of police departments. It was also reported that based on preliminary statistics for 2010, HPD reported clearing 88 percent of its murder investigations, meaning the cases were solved or a killer was identified compared to 71 in 2009. Meritorious Service Award: may be presented to officers who have distinguished themselves by one of the following: (a) conduct during a criminal investigation or law enforcement action while demonstrating a high level of courage or (b) actions resulting in the apprehension of a felon under dangerous or unusual circumstances. B. Zera Commander Airport (Hobby) D. B. Edwards Commander Airport (IAH) M. J. Faulhaber Commander Criminal Intelligence K N. Campbell CHIEF OF POLICE Troy Finner Office Of Legal Services U. HPD hired the Department's only civilian Academy Director. Worse, many people had been convicted and sent to prison based upon the evidence contained in the crime lab. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner at the mayor's announcement of a slate new police reforms, on April 29, 2021. [11] On June 11, 2007, the HPD crime lab reported its DNA section had gained full accreditation from ASCLD. The new policies were reviewed by the city council and were added to the City Charter (Art 308344). [49] The incident resulted in 12 officers being disciplined, fired, or charged. But one thing is known: The average tenure for some big-city chiefs in Texas is in decline. This page was last edited on 2 April 2023, at 14:04. The other major milestones affecting HPD are: Members of the People's Party II had dared any HPD unit to drive down Dowling. Raziq and Werner analyzed the HPD lab's DNA report with the help of DNA expert Bill Thompson of the University of California-Irvine. HOUSTON - Troy Finner has been sworn in as Houston's next Chief of Police.. Finner is a native of Houston and grew up in the Fifth Ward. In October 1950, a new City ordinance took effect that reduced the police work week from 48 to 40 hours. HPD also operates 29 store front locations throughout the city. [14], Studies released in February 2006 indicate that Safe Clear has been successful during its fledgling year. Instead of taking Torres to the hospital, the officers took him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou where he was pushed into the water. For example, they hold position titles including "shift commander", "night commander", "division commander", etc. The average response time was reduced from 5.8 to 3.81 minutes. In 1940, HPD had grown to 466 officers. In 1997, Clarence O. Bradford was appointed as chief. The Department adopted the San Jose model to begin an organized field training program. In 1920, HPD revised its application examination to cover its duties, responsibilities, various procedures and firearms policies. Persons having their vehicle towed were provided with a Motorist's Bill of Rights and were required to pay a sum to the City of Houston after the towing had taken place. He was expected to have no criminal record upon completing his probation. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and twenty years on the state's sex offender registry. [59][needs update], In late February 2020, the Harris County District Attorney asked local courts to appoint lawyers to represent 69 people who had been convicted based on the testimony of Officer Gerald Goines. Goines was accused of creating a fictitious informant and making other false statements to obtain a search warrant that resulted in two deaths in a raid on a home in January 2019. IN - Mar 02, 2023. Chief of Police. The number one and two largest . He was released from prison in March 2003 and given a full pardon in 2004. [36] Originally, officers could choose to promote to detective (investigator) or sergeant (supervisor) which were both immediately below lieutenant.[37]. These two camps Trained, Housed Bomber Cadets and The 24th Infantry Regiment, respectively. They inflated the number of persons they claimed attended in order to gain additional funds. The 33 Artesian facility houses the communication and maintenance facilities. [56], In June 2013, a grand jury refused to indict Officer Matthew Marin after he shot and killed Brian C. Claunch on September 22, 2012. [24], In 2013 Jo DePrang of the Texas Observer wrote that "According to citizens, community activists, a veteran Houston police officer and even the president of the local police union, the scenario of multiple officers beating an unarmed suspect happens nearly every day. The Chief also requested and was approved by city council to abolish the deputy chief rank and replaced it with assistant chiefs to flatten the department's hierarchy. The main switchboard phone number was later replaced with the 911 logo. The police force itself was not established until 1841 by Houston's first marshal, Daniel Busley. In May 1967, protests erupted at Texas Southern University due to the Vietnam War and racial tensions of the time. [53][54], In August 2011, press reports stated that the department held more than 7,000 used rape kits that had never been tested. As of 2015, the department uses a large number of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors as their main fleet of patrol vehicles which was first ordered in 1996 replacing the Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (used between 1988 and in patrol service until 2004 (replacing the Ford LTD Crown Victoria squads to 1987 along with M-bodied Mopars (primarily the Plymouth Gran Fury (both R and M platform) last used in 1989)). July 19 A decommissioned Boeing 737 was added acquired by, November 15 The Red Light program comes to an end after a. January 1: HPD reports that 2010 murders are down 7% at 267, compared to 287 from 2009. The Executive Assistant Chiefs manage the Investigative & Special Operations and Patrol Operations commands, which are summarized in subsequent sections of this document. Morrison that lasted 5 weeks. 3. The following 7 pages are in this category, out of 7 total. New York State Police. In 1866, Marshal Isaac C. Lord began to establish HPD as a proper police force by setting hiring rules, regulations, and requirements in hiring practices for recruits. The city Ordinance that forced officers to keep their firearms out of sight under their coats was repealed. However, this again came as a result of some prompting investigatory work done by the TV station KHOU. In 1960, some of the requirements were trainee applicants during this time frame were to be: 1960: The Central Intelligence Division was created to track "hoodlums". July 21: The Chief announced that the police helicopters would have to fly reduced hours from 21 hours a day to 3 a day. 1956 Carl Shuptrine was appointed Chief and in 1957 he reassigned 70 officers from downtown foot patrol to patrol cars to help get to Houston's newly annexed areas. On Monday morning, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner was sworn . The paint was a special order and cost significantly higher and the city settled with white cars using the blue "Houston Police" logo. Many HPD supervisors and Houston residents called for more stringent disciplinary actions against the Crime Lab employees. Chief Carrol Lynn was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and five years' probation for an extortion conviction. [13] The intention of the program was to decrease the freeway accidents and traffic jams that occurred due to stalled drivers. Police1 law enforcement directory is a comprehensive list of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the United States.