Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department (often referred to simply as "HPD") is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston. Its jurisdiction often overlaps with several other law enforcement agencies, among them the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County Constable Precincts. The HPD currently employs over 5,300 officers throughout the city [1].
According to the HPD's website, "The mission of the Houston Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in the City of Houston by working cooperatively with the public and within the framework of the U.S. Constitution to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment." [2]
The current chief of police is Harold L. Hurtt.
History
Beginnings
Houston was founded by the Allen Brothers in 1836 and incorporated as a city the next year, 1837. As the city quickly grew, so did the need for a cohesive law enforcement agency. It was in 1841 that the Houston Police Department was founded. The first HPD badge issued bore the number "1."
The early part of the 20th century was a time of enormous growth for both the City of Houston and for the Houston Police Department. Due to growing traffic concerns in downtown Houston, the HPD purchased its first automobile in 1910 and created its first traffic squad during that same year. Eleven years later, in 1921, the HPD installed the city's first traffic light. This traffic light was manually operated until 1927, when automatic traffic lights were installed.
As Houston became a larger metropolis throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the HPD found itself growing and acquiring more technology to keep up with the city's fast pace. The first homicide division was established in 1930. During that same year, the HPD purchased newer weapons to arm their officers: standard issue .44 caliber revolvers and two Thompson submachine guns. In 1939, the department proudly presented its first police academy class. The Houston Police Officers Association (HPOA) was created in 1945. This organization later became the Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU website).
Throughout the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, the HPD also experienced its own highs and lows. The first HPD bomb squad was created in 1966. The next year, 1967, saw massive riots at Texas Southern University. During the riots, one officer was killed and nearly 500 students were arrested. It was as a result of these riots that the still-active Community Relations Division was created within the HPD. In 1970, the Helicopter Patrol Division was created with three leased helicopters. That year also marked the department's first purchase of bulletproof vests for their officers. The HPD's first Special Weapons and Tactical Squad (SWAT) was formed in 1975.
Modern Times
In 1982, the Houston Police Department appointed its first African-American chief of police, Lee P. Brown. Brown served as chief from 1982 to 1990 and later became the City of Houston's first African-American mayor in 1998. While Brown was considered a successful chief, he also earned the unflattering moniker "Out of Town Brown" for his many lengthy trips away from Houston during his tenure [3].
The HPD paved a new road again in 1990 when Mayor Kathy Whitmire appointed Elizabeth Watson as the first female chief of police. Elizabeth Watson served from 1990 to 1992 and was followed by Sam Nuchia, who served as police chief from 1992 to 1997. In 1997, Clarence O. Bradford was appointed as chief. In 2002, Bradford was indicted and later acquitted of perjury charges, stemming from an incident in which he alledly lied under oath about cursing fellow officers [4].
The current chief of police is Harold L. Hurtt. Hurtt was appointed to the position by Mayor Bill White. Hurtt had previously served as the chief of the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Deparment [5].
Organization
The Houston Police Deparment is headed by the chief of police, a law enforcement officer appointed by the City of Houston's mayor. This position is aided by four executive assistant chiefs of police and nine assistant chiefs of police. HPD headquarters are located in the heart of downtown Houston at 1200 Travis Street. The HPD also operates thirteen substations and 28 storefront locations throughout the city. Substations are operated and staffed 24 hours a day. The substations are:
- Central Patrol
- Clear Lake Patrol
- East Patrol (Magnolia)
- Fondren Patrol
- Intercontinental Airport
- Kingwood Patrol
- North Patrol
- Northeast Patrol
- Northwest Patrol
- South Central Patrol
- Southeast Patrol
- Southwest Patrol
- Westside Patrol
A map of all substations and storefront locations can be found at the HPD website: PDF map of substations.
Divisions
There are many divisions within the Houston Police Department [6]. Among the largest are:
- Accident Division
- Auto Theft Division
- Bomb Squad
- Burglary and Theft Division
- Canine
- Community Services
- Computer Crime/Forensic Unit
- Crime Scene Unit
- Criminal Intelligence Division
- Dive Team
- Environmental Investigations
- Family Violence Unit
- Forgery Division
- Helicopter Patrol
- Hit and Run Division
- Homicide Division
- Chicano Squad
- Hostage Negotiation Team
- Internal Affairs Division
- Juvenile Division
- Major Offenders
- Motorcycle Division
- Mounted Patrol
- Narcotics Division
- Public Affairs Division
- Robbery Division
- Sex Crimes Division
- SWAT Detail
- Traffic and Accident Division
- Vice Division
Current Events
Crime Lab Problems
A 2002 state audit of the Houston Police Department Crime Lab led to the closing of the DNA section of the laboratory when it was found that samples were contaminated and the lab's files were very poorly maintained. The audit revealed that a section of the lab's roof was leaking into sample-containment areas, lab technicians were seriously undereducated or unqualified for their jobs, samples had been incorrectly tagged, and samples had been contaminated through improper handling. Worse, many people had been convicted and sent to prison based upon the evidence contained in the crime lab. The New York Times asked the question, "Worst Crime Lab in the Country?" in a March 2003 article [7].
Beginning in early 2003, the HPD Crime Lab began cooperating with outside DNA testing facilities to review criminal cases involving cases or convictions associated with Crime Lab evidence. Josiah Sutton, tried for rape in 1999 and found guilty based upon HPD Crime Lab testing, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. New testing on the DNA evidence collected in the case confirmed that the DNA did not belong to Sutton. He was released from prison in March 2003 and given a full pardon in 2004.
As a result of the scandal, nine Crime Lab technicians were disciplined with suspensions and one analyst was terminated. However, that analyst was fully reinstated to her previous position in January 2004, less than one month after her December 2003 termination. Many HPD supervisors and Houston residents called for more stringent disciplinary actions against the Crime Lab employees. However, the city panel responsible for disciplining the lab technicians repeatedly resisted these arguments and instead reduced the employees' punishments [8]. Irma Rios was hired in 2003 as Lab Director, replacing Interim Lab Director Frank Fitzpatrick.
In May 2005, the Houston Police Department announced that with much effort and coordination on their part, they had received national accreditation through the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD). The ASCLD stated that the lab had met or exceeded standards for accrediation in all areas except DNA [9]. Through independent research and testing, it was determined in January 2006 that of 1,100 samples reviewed, 40% of DNA samples and 23% of blood evidence samples had serious problems [10]. As of April 2006, the DNA section of the Crime Lab remained closed.
Links
Crime Lab FAQ at the HPD Official Website
Complete coverage of the Crime Lab scandal by the Houston Chronicle
Safe Clear
The Safe Clear program was implemented by Mayor Bill White on January 1, 2005 as a joint venture between the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department [11]. The intention of the program was to decrease the freeway accidents and traffic jams that occurred due to stalled drivers. Select tow truck companies across the city were authorized to tow a stalled vehicle as soon as possible after being notified by an HPD officer. Persons having their vehicle towed were provided with a Motorists Bill of Rights and were required to pay a sum to the City of Houston after the towing had taken place.
The program was initially very unpopular among Houston residents. Frequent complaints were that the program unfairly punished lower-income motorists by enforcing a high towing fee and that the program could potentially damage vehicles that required special tow trucks and equipment to be safely towed away. Other complaints were that stranded motorists did not have an option to choose their own garage. The City of Houston and the HPD addressed these concerns with program improvements that provided funds to pay for short tows that removed stalled vehicles from the freeway and then allowed drivers to choose their own garage and tow companies once they were safely off the freeway [12].
Studies released in February 2006 indicate that Safe Clear has been successful during its fledgling year. There were 1,533 less freeway accidents in 2005, a decrease of 10.4% since Safe Clear's implementation [13].
Links
Citizens Against Safe Clear homepage