BY KEVIN VU
Why it matters
Looking ahead
HPD Assistant Chief Megan Howard said during a Feb. 11 Public Safety Committee meeting that violent crime increased nearly 5% from 2023 to 2024. However, violent crimes and total crimes are down from 2020. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, human trafficking, aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Howard said HPD’s No. 1 priority this year is to increase staffing and help combat rising crime. “We should be very optimistic about our potential to grow and fill our ranks,” Howard said. “The key here is to plug the hole [and] to slow down departures.” Conn said HPD will continue to push recruiting efforts through hiring events at community centers, expos and even mentor programs where officers bring in interested candidates and mentor them throughout the hiring and academy process. “We need people who have a heart of public service and want to contribute to their community as a whole and better the community that we live in,” Conn said. “That requires people who are willing to step into the life of policing and public service and serve with a purpose.” An additional goal for HPD, Howard said, is
New central station
10
45
LUBBOCK ST.
RIESNER ST.
R .
Old central station
N
Violent Nonviolent Houston crime rates: 2020-2024 2020 30,227 99,794
Total crimes
to construct a new central station by midyear that will be located next to HPD’s Property Room at 1202 Washington Ave. The original station at Riesner Street was damaged by Hurricane Harvey, leaving multiple divisions displaced and not in workspaces properly designed for their work such as the vehicular crimes division, she said. No cost estimate was available at press time for the new station.
130,021
2021 29,141 2022 26,946 2023 25,648 2024 26,819
97,600
126,741
106,358
133,304
106,036
131,684
125,944
99,125
SOURCE: HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
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