Tag Archives: HPD

Interview with Rick Rodriguez

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s interview subject is Rick Rodriguez, who is running in At Large #1. Rodriguez is a 24-year veteran of HPD, where he has worked in a variety of divisions and units, and is now in the Criminal Intelligence Division. He … Continue reading →

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Parker’s education plan

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for review we have Annise Parker’s education plan. I should note that while the press release about this plan came out last week, a lot of the ideas within the plan have been on the table for awhile. … Continue reading →

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How you gonna pay for those new cops?

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron asks a reasonable question about the promises being made by the Mayoral candidates to hire more police officers. The deep fiscal slowdown facing the city will make it difficult to fund more police academy classes, a factor that … Continue reading →

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Warrants

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of people out there have outstanding warrants. Nearly 2 million warrants worth more than $340 million are outstanding in the Houston area, and in most cases they’re not for hard-core criminals. They’re for average residents who haven’t settled minor … Continue reading →

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Parker’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tis the season for Mayoral candidates to send out position papers on various issues. I’ve gotten a couple in my mailbox in the past few days and want to spend a little time examining them. First up is Annise Parker’s … Continue reading →

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Cops and crime

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The news is mixed, though I see it as being presented as more bad than good. Houston has a higher rate of violent crime than any other Texas city and ranks among the highest in the nation, according to a … Continue reading →

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City or county?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Like Nancy Sims, I was at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce candidate forum yesterday morning. And like Nancy, I thought this bit was one of the more interesting parts of the debate. Several questions focused on city finances and … Continue reading →

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Interview with CO Bradford

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in the interview series is C.O. “Brad” Bradford, who is running for At Large #4, currently held by the term-limited Ronald Green. Bradford was the Democratic candidate for Harris County District Attorney last year, and though he lost … Continue reading →

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Not everybody isn’t hiring, Part Deux

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Bad economic times are good times for Texas prisons to fill their vacancies. Texas has just 1,262 correctional officer jobs now open, compared with more than 3,700 openings just over a year ago. Officials say more people have become guards … Continue reading →

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Another Mayoral wants Hurtt out

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s just Roy, so it’s not like this materially affects Chief Harold Hurtt’s status, but still. “We want police officers to stay,” said Harris County Department of Education Trustee Roy Morales, one of five candidates who talked about crime and … Continue reading →

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Parker wants to boot Hurtt

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And the Mayoral campaign just got a little more interesting. Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has plans get rid of Police Chief Harold Hurtt if she’s elected. “I will replace the police chief. I think he’s ineffective,” Parker told the Houston … Continue reading →

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Mattress Mack is watching you

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Be sure to smile for the cameras if you visit the Westchase District. A West Houston nonprofit group on Tuesday applied for city permission to install the first of a dozen security cameras it plans to purchase to reduce crime … Continue reading →

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HPOU wants to get into the immigration business

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t know why it is that the Houston Police Officers Union has decided it wants HPD to be different from every other urban police force in the state and start questioning residents about their immigration status. The reasons … Continue reading →

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Paying for rape kits

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this last week, and reading it now I’m one part outraged and one part puzzled. Victims of sexual assault are getting bills, rejection letters and pushy calls from bill collectors while a state crime victims’ fund sits full … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Candidate interview: Ed Gonzalez

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And with the announcement of early voting locations and times, and the realization that early voting is three weeks away, I bring you the last of my interviews with candidates in the District H special election. Today’s subject is Ed … Continue reading →

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Two immigration stories

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry writes a letter to the Department of Homeland Security. Perry asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this week to take a series of steps to improve information-sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement. The Homeland Security-related issues … Continue reading →

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Regional crime lab

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This has been talked about for some time, and not unexpectedly it’s starting to move forward. After years of scandal at crime labs across the state, local officials have proposed opening a regional lab based at the Harris County Medical … Continue reading →

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Your eyes may deceive you

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron covers a report by the Justice Project about faulty eyewitness testimony and the many wrongful convictions to which it has led. Most wrongful convictions in Texas stem from mistaken eyewitness identifications, errors that experts say could have been … Continue reading →

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Not everybody isn’t hiring

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The downturn in the economy has created an opportunity for the Houston Police Department to bolster its ranks. A year ago, the Houston Police Department could barely muster enough recruits to fill a 70-seat academy class. Now with 1,000 applicants … Continue reading →

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CSI: Needs Improvement

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like Gil Grissom got out at just the right time. Crime labs nationwide must be overhauled to prevent the types of mistakes that put innocent people in prison and leave criminals out on the street, researchers have concluded. A … Continue reading →

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And the answer is…more cameras (maybe)

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, there is some logic to it. The Houston Police Department is considering changes — possibly even expansion — to its red-light camera program after a city-commissioned study showed that crashes went up at intersections where the devices have been … Continue reading →

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Heights crime prevention townhall report

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on that crime prevention townhall meeting in the Heights that I mentioned the other day. In response to several recent home invasions and a rash of burglaries in and around Houston Heights, city officials have given … Continue reading →

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Crime prevention townhall meeting

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Another public service announcement: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will be holding a townhall meeting on crime prevention in the Heights tomorrow evening, from 5 to 6:30 PM at the Heights library, 1302 Heights Boulevard. HPD Chief Harold Hurtt and Harris … Continue reading →

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Critics claim camera study shenanigans

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So what else is new? The Houston Police Department tried to influence the outcome of a controversial city-commissioned study by changing how crashes at intersections with red-light cameras were counted, according to documents included in a lawsuit. HPD’s request was … Continue reading →

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