Citizens' Police Academy Class 51 Graduating Tonight

Tonight, HPD will welcome 30 citizens graduating from HPD's Citizens' Police Academy.

The graduates have spent the past 10 weeks learning how HPD officers handle investigations, patrols and dangerous situations.

The Citizens' Police Academy, in its 25th year (organized in 1989), is designed to give citizens from all walks of life a working knowledge of how HPD operates, and stresses the importance of their involvement in preventing and fighting crime in their neighborhoods.    
   
Thank you to these citizens for taking time out of their lives to learn more about police work and HPD.  


For more information about the HPD Citizens’ Police Academy, please go to THIS LINK. 

Students visit HPD Headquarters

Students from the Barbara Jordan High School for Careers recently visited HPD Headquarters. The group is part of the City of Houston – Houston Pathfinders Immersion Initiative program.

These students were able to tour the HPD Museum curated by HPD Senior Police Officer James Chapman and tour the HPD Watch Command Center. The students were amazed by the history of HPD and hear about retired HPD Senior Police Officer, Mr. Edward Thomas and his 63 years of service.

The students were about to head back to school when Chief McClelland walked back into Travis and briefly talk with the students. The students were thrilled to meet the Chief and perhaps this brief encounter encourages a few of these students to pursue a career in law enforcement. 

Chief of Police Charles McClelland presents award to Dennis Storemski

HPD Chief Charles McClelland presented Dennis Storemski with a token of the department’s appreciation for his work in obtaining more than $40 million in grant money for HPD. Mr. Storemski is a retired HPD Executive Assistant Chief and is currently the Mayor’s Director for Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The monies granted to HPD have been used to purchase equipment used to keep the city safe. One item purchased was the new radio system that HPD has implemented. This new system allows for communication across agencies, an ability that was noted as lacking in New York during 9/11.

Mr. Storemski stated that his goal is to assist the region in its anti-terrorism efforts with an emphasis on allowing it to protect, prevent, respond, and recover from a terrorist incident. With that in mind, he looks for equipment, such as the new radio system, that can meet that criteria and still be used on a daily basis to enhance the existing capabilities of fire and law enforcement.

Coffee With a Cop

Information Exchange September 2014

Dr. Tim Dang recently coordinated an Information Exchange that was held at the Park Place condominiums. He assisted Officer Peter Dung and Sgt. James Demartin of Eastside Patrol present crime prevention safety information to Vietnamese residents. This exchange is done annually and the citizens had many questions and were very grateful for HPD's involvement.

HPD Chief Charles McClelland does ALS ice bucket challenge

HPD Chief Charles McClelland accepted the ALS ice bucket challenge issued by the HPOU and will make a donation. Chief McClelland challenged Houston Fire Chief Terry Garrison also. 

2014 Look Good, Feel Good Back to School Initiative

The Look Good, Feel Good initiative helps get schools supplies to children and provides them with haircuts as they get ready to go back to school.  A challenge was issued to all the HPD patrol stations to donate school supplies for the event.

Northeast Patrol Station won the trophy for the department-wide school supply drive by donating more than 3600 school supply items.  The items included 106 back packs, 1050 pencils, 310 spiral notebook, 315 folders and the list goes on.  Lt. Deese stated, “This was our opportunity to give back to the community and represent Northeast Patrol Station. This trophy will never leave Northeast ‘The Rock’”.

The Look Good, Feel Good Initiative will be at the following locations this Sunday, August 24^th, from noon to 4 pm,

Havard Boys and Girls Club

1520 Airline Dr.

Fort Bend Boys and Girls Club

5525 Hobby St.

YWCA

6309 Martin Luther King

Smartie Pants Academy

4512 Hwy 6 N

For more information about Look Good, Feel Good, contact Officer EJ Joseph of Public Affairs at 713-308-3200.

Home Burglary Prevention

The Houston Police Department wants to help you make your home as safe as possible and a nuisance to would-be burglars.

For example, many intruders enter through weak doors. Having strong doors and door frames, including garage doors, is essential to your security. Steel doors and frames provide enhanced security because they are harder to destroy. If you have hollow-core doors, it is recommended you replace them with a sturdier type. There are wooden doors being manufactured to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure from would-be burglars.

Secure windows and sliding glass doors can be secured with a locking device placed along the track. A broomstick or a wooden rod may work just as well if placed on the track between the door frame and the door. Glass sliding doors are usually secluded from public view and special care must be taken to secure them. Bolt locks can be installed to help prevent the door from being opened or removed from its track.

Burglars will sometimes log your departure and arrival times from and to your home. Help ruin their plot by:

·         -Don't advertise you'll be out of town to casual acquaintances or in social media. Instead, tell a reliable neighbor and have him/her watch your property.

·         -Leave a few lights on or use timers that will turn lights on and off periodically.

·         -Leave drapes in a normal position. Drapes or shades fully closed give a deserted look.

·         -Use an etching device to mark your valuables with an identifying mark known only to you.

·         -Make an inventory list of all your belongings, include serial numbers.

·         -Stop all newspaper deliveries and have someone pick up your mail.

·         -Store an inventory of your valuables in a safe deposit box or fire safe, or file it with your insurance company.

·         -Share this safety information with your neighbors verbally and through social media.

The more citizens heed such advice, the more we can continue the trend on reducing home burglaries, which have decreased about 8 percent in the city for the first six months of 2014, after dropping more than 10 percent in 2013.

To see a home security demonstration by HPD crime prevention experts on best practices of protecting your home, go to the HPD YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0qtTORGII

For more information on scheduling an officer to perform a home security check at your residence, call HPD Public Affairs at 713-308-3200 or your local law enforcement agency.

HPD Crime Prevention Initiative "Help Us Help You"

HPD is kicking off a crime prevention initiative titled "Help Us Help You" and will offer weekly tips and information to help all of us in the fight against all crimes.

At a news conference today, Senior Police Officers J. Byrd and H. Abad shared tips on home burglary prevention. 

To watch our officers conduct an on-site home security check and for concise tips for all homeowners to follow CLICK HERE. 

HPD back to school contributions PSA (Houston Police Department, HPD Vid...

It is almost “Back to School” time, and HPD wants to help students Look Good, Feel Good.

School supplies are being collected at HPD patrol stations to be distributed to children at 5 different locations during the 6^th annual Look Good, Feel Good event on Sunday, August 24^th.

There will be boxes at each patrol station to accept donations. For more information, contact Officer E.J. Joseph at 713-308-3200.

Here are the locations to donate:

·         Westside                3203 S. Dairy Ashford St.                 281-584-4700

·         Midwest                 7277 Regency Square Blvd.              832-394-1200

·         Southeast               8300 Mykawa Road                          713-731-5000

·         Northeast               8301 Ley Road                                 713-635-0200

·         North                     9455 W. Montgomery Road              281-405-5300

·         South Gessner        8605 Westplace Dr.                          832-394-4700

·         Central                   61 Riesner                                       713-247-4400

·         Headquarters         1200 Travis St.                                 713-308-3200

·         Kingwood              3915 Rustic Woods Drive                  281-913-4500

·         Clear Lake             2855 Bay Area Boulevard                 281-218-3800

·         HOU Airport         7800 Airport Blvd.                             713-845-6800

·         IAH Airport           3100 Terminal Road N.                     281-230-6800

·         Eastside                 7525 Sherman St.                             713-928-4600

·         Northwest              6000 Teague Rd.                              713-744-0900

Tour of the HPD Property Division

The HPD Property Division hosted citizens in the Asian Community and gave them a tour of the property room. They viewed the intake area, the weapons vault, the staging area and the Citizens’ Customer Service Area. They viewed the shredding of items and the destruction of a metal BB gun.

They also received information on how to retrieve property if it were to ever be tagged in the HPD Property room. For more information on the HPD Property Room, please go to this link http://www.houstontx.gov/police/divisions/property_division/

The pictures include HPD Assistant Chief J. Chen, Deputy Director L. Yium, and Captain H. Harris of the Property Division. 

Be aware of your purse at all times!

Be purse aware this holiday weekend. Keep your purse with you at all times to prevent theft and lighten the load in your purse. Carry only what is necessary.

For more safety tips go to this link

HPD Pays a Visit to a Special Patient at MD Anderson

Gavin Glynn is a brave 4-year-old boy from Ireland who recently received a special visit from Houston Police officers. A fundraiser was held in Ireland so Gavin, who has a rare form of cancer, and his family could come to Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center and receive treatment. The Garda (Irish Federal Police Force) reached out to HPD since Gavin is fascinated with anything police related.

Gavin was treated to a visit from Mounted Patrol horses Smash and Cushing and several HPD officers. Gavin was also made an honorary police officer. HPD plans to visit with Gavin and his family periodically while he is here in Houston for his treatment.

For more pictures on HPD’s visit with Gavin, go to HPD’s Flickr account at this link 

Chief McClelland meets with Houston Chronicle Interns

HPD Chief Charles McClelland met for an hour today with 18 students enrolled in the Houston Chronicle Journalism Summer Workshop for a “student intern news conference.”

They talked about a range of topics including HPD’s staffing and how it will be addressed, diversity of the department (52% of officers are minority, 1100 officers speak more than one language), case assignments (priority on crimes against people, and then property), HPDs youth programs to deter gang activity (such as The Boys & Girls Club and YPAC), and the dangers of texting and driving. 

Most in the group attend schools in Fort Bend and Harris Counties, and Chief McClelland encouraged the students to join the Youth Police Advisory Council (YPAC).

For more information about YPAC, go to this link.

City of Houston Juvenile Curfew

Even though school is out, there is still a juvenile curfew in the City of Houston. The curfew applies to juveniles under the age of 17.

Juveniles cannot remain, walk, run, drive or ride about in or upon any public place in the city between the hours of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 a.m. (midnight) to 6 a.m. Friday through Saturday.

There are exceptions, such as being with a parent, which are listed on the City of Houston website.

For more information, call the HPD Juvenile Division at 713-731-5335.

Texas Chinese Radio AM 1040

HPD Senior Police Officer James Sobota, coordinator of the City Wide Positive Interaction Program (PIP), appears on a community educational crime prevention talk show every month on Texas Chinese Radio channel 1050 AM with Pamela Hu.

For the last seven years, this talk show has provided a very positive trusting relationship within the Chinese community and provides crime prevention information tips to residents and business owners.  In addition, Officer Sobota has represented the Houston Police Department at several Chinese community social events where many can interact and ask questions to make the community a safer place to live and work.

For more information about Texas Chinese Radio, please go to https://www.facebook.com/texaschineseradio

2014 Police Week Day of Prayer

 

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Day of Prayer during Police Week at HPD Headquarters.

 

 

Wounded Warror Reception

Thank you to everyone who turned out at Intercontinental Airport for the Wounded Warrior Reception!

Day of Prayer 2014

Thank you to everyone who attended our Day of Prayer this morning. The annual prayer service is an observance of National Police Week dedicated to remembering officers who have given their lives in the line of duty to help make our lives safer.

 

 

 

Officer Theragood at Calvert Elementary School

Police Officer S. Theragood of the Special Operations Division speaks to kids at Calvert Elementary School. He said the over 600 students were "awesome!" Great job of community policing, Officer Theragood!

Crime Victims' Rights Week

Members of the HPD Victim Services Unit attended the City of Houston Proclamation Ceremony at City Hall recently with other Victim Advocate agencies in the Houston area. Houston Mayor Annise Parker proclaimed the week of April 6-12, 2014 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

The mission of the HPD Victim Services Unit is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Houston by assisting victims and the families of the victims experiencing crime and trauma.

For more information, please contact the Victim Services Unit at 713-308-0080 or go to THIS LINK 

Strike out Crime!

Recently HPD’s Southeast Patrol Division joined community members in striking out crime. 

The event was  part of the division’s 4th annual Safety Bowl and teamed HPD officers with residents in a friendly environment in which the officers wshared crime prevention tips and information. Officers also distributed Burglary of Motor Vehicle (BMV) report cards in the parking lot, looking for unlocked vehicles, windows left cracked open or rolled down, and personal belongs, all of which could serve as an enticement to thieves.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 6 – April 12, 2014. This week honors the extraordinary progress on behalf of millions of victims since the passage of the Victims of Crime Act in 1984.

The Houston Police Department Victim Services Unit (VSU) is dedicated to positively impacting the quality of life for the citizens of Houston and exists to provide assistance to crime victims and their families.  The VSU works closely with Law Enforcement and social service and legal agencies within the City of Houston and Harris County. 

For more information about the HPD Victim Services Unit, please call 713-308-0080.

The Power of Social Media

If you still doubt the power of social media, here is a great story from KHOU Channel 11 about how social media helped a Houston area boy find his way back to his family. 

March on Crime in the Sunnyside Neighborhood

Thank you to KTRK ABC 13 for this story on HPD Community Service at the Sunnyside Storefront doing a March on Crime.

HPD Bike Relay Team

Members of the HPD Bike Relay Team did a logistics drive to Tacoma, Washington recently.  In June, the relay team will ride bicycles from Houston to Tacoma to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Approximately 40 officers will leave Discovery Green Park and won’t stop until they reach Tacoma. This year marks the 33^rd anniversary of this event. We will be following along on the ride via HPD's Facebook page. Stay tuned. 

Positive Interaction Program (PIP)

The Positive Interaction Program (PIP) holds monthly meetings featuring speakers from different divisions (Burglary and Theft, Homicide, K-9, Helicopters, etc) explaining how their division operations. There are always varying topics of interest presented because the free flow of information and ideas gives both the department and citizens a better understanding of each other's needs and expectations.

There are divisional PIP meetings as well as a Citywide PIP. You must be a member of a divisional PIP to come to the Citywide PIP. The Citywide PIP meets every other month.

For more information about the Positive Interaction Program go to http://www.houstontx.gov/police/pip/ . You can also contact the station that patrols your neighborhood and ask to speak to a community service officer. Here is a link with all HPD substations and storefronts.  http://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/substations.htm

Mo the Mule

In case you missed one of the newest stars of HPD Mounted Patrol, here is Mo the Mule showing everyone why he can patrol Downtown Houston just like his horse coworkers. 

Get to Know Your Community Service Officer

Citizens often want to know how to get more police patrols in their neighborhood. It is a good idea to get to know which station patrols your neighborhood and who your community service officer is.

Your neighborhood is patrolled by a specific patrol station. You can call the station and ask to speak to a community service officer. Community service officers are police officers assigned to storefronts whose job is to be a liaison between the community and the department.

Here is a link http://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/hpd_beat_map.pdf to a map showing the police districts and which patrol station the districts are assigned to. (This is the same as pictured) The map will help you get an idea of which station you can call. Once you call the station, you can ask to speak to a community service officer. Know that most community service officers work out of storefronts, so ask which storefront would be closest to you.

Here is a list of all patrol and storefronts along with phone numbers  http://www.houstontx.gov/police/contact/substations.htm

Thank you for supporting HPD. 

HPD Baylor Alumni

HPD is proud to have within its ranks college graduates from many outstanding universities. Pictured here from left to right: Captain L. Baimbridge, Sergeant D. Bogaard, Captain M. Skillern, and Lieutenant C. Bellamy.