Public Safety
The basic issue with the Houston Police Department is simple: we need more officers.
Houston has a population of 2.4 million in about 640 square miles. For comparison, Chicago has 2.6 million residents in 234 square miles, Chicago has 11,500 officers. Houston has 5,300. A recent study put the number of officers needed for a city our size at 6,500.
HPD is trending in the right direction. This past year more officers were added than left the force but not by much. The new contract has made recruiting easier because of the increased salaries. Police cadet classes are graduating more officers than ever.
Excessive overtime spending is costing the city money, but adding new officers will alleviate this issue and boost morale. Currently many divisions are overworked and understaffed.
- To continue to grow HPD, Nick would seek to tie compensation for Houston officers to that paid in other Texas cities. Prior to the new contract, Houston police were paid 20 per cent less than officers in other large Texas cities. Keeping our officers’ pay at the same levels will allow Houston to compete for the best and brightest and increase our department.
- Houston police need more assets, such as vehicles and equipment. Nick will work with our regional partners on the state and federal level for funding and seek out grants that could help pay for what officers need to do their jobs.
- Nick wants to explore using the revenue cap exemption for first responders to help fund public safety. This action has not been taken since the Bill White administration.
- Support for HPD’s Differential Response Team (DRT) will come from Nick’s District C service funds. In addition to responding to crime, DRT also addresses diverse neighborhood problems such un-kept lots, residential improprieties and apartment complex ordinance violations. Nick appreciates how DRT encourages the involvement of the community in solving problems.
Nick has been endorsed by the Houston Police Officers’ Association.
