“Keep Houston Safe” Campaign, Crime Initiative an Early Success

January 10, 2008 - A 60-day crime fighting initiative and intense public safety campaign launched in northeast Houston along the East Freeway (Interstate 10 East) corridor helped lower targeted crimes in the area by more than 35 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Police Chief Harold Hurtt and Northeast Patrol Division Captain M.D. Brown applauded the efforts of officers, and area businesses and residents who pledged their support in the “Keep Houston Safe” campaign. “This initiative shows what we’re capable of when police and citizens work together,” said Chief Hurtt. “I can’t tell you how pleased I was to hear that more than 3,200 citizens signed a pledge to help Keep Houston Safe.” Chief Hurtt added, “We talk about how important it is to have citizens working with us to help reduce crime and this team effort helped reduce burglaries of motor vehicles by 49 percent and auto thefts by 27 percent.”

Beat 9C40 from November 1 thru December 31, 2007: Same Period in 2006:

· 59 burglaries of motor vehicles 116
· 40 auto thefts 55
· 15 aggravated assaults 23
· 22 robberies 23
· 17 burglaries of buildings 26
· 38 burglaries of habitations 52
· 0 murders 0
· 191 total crimes as listed above 295

On October 30, 2007, Mayor Bill White and Chief Hurtt unveiled plans for the I-10 East Freeway Crime Reduction Initiative in 9C40s beat to address crime issues along the East Freeway corridor from the 11000 through the 13000 blocks of the East Freeway service roads. The area has a high concentration of businesses, restaurants and strip centers, which attract large numbers of patrons.

In addition to an increase in patrol visibility and in hours of storefront operations, the HPD’s Mobile Command Police Station (MCOPS) vehicle was utilized and deployed 32 days at area businesses and neighborhoods. The MCOPS presence allowed officers to disseminate literature at local businesses and improve police community relations. A total of 3,250 residents signed pledge forms and in return for following simple crime prevention tips, received bumper stickers and hang tags indicating “I Help Keep Houston Safe.” Citizens requesting more information on the “Keep Houston Safe” campaign can contact the HPD Public Affairs Division Community Outreach Unit at 713-308-3200.

JFC/MDB/MES 1-10-08

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.