HOUSTON – Mayor John Whitmire joined Houston Police Department Chief Finner and executive members of the Houston Area Police Chief Association Thursday morning to continue the conversation addressing his key high priority issues surrounding the city’s public safety.
Other law enforcement leaders, Clemente Rodriguez, chief of Rice University Police Department, and Chief Paul Córdova, Aldine Independent School District Police Department chief, also thanked Crime Stoppers of Houston and local agencies for collaborating and partnering every month to share information that will help break barriers in the criminal system.
Córdova said there are currently 200 members strong of chiefs, sheriffs and constables that gather to share resources every month.
During the news conference, Whitmire said public safety is his No. 1 concern to address in Houston as mayor. He thanked Crime Stoppers of Houston for showing up, collaborating with law enforcement and finding ways to help decrease crime rates in the city.
“I don’t want meeting, we’ve been having meetings, I want actions,” Whitmire said. “Criminal justice is a system and any component of it not working effects the entire system.”
He said residents should feel safe when they walk around the city and being safe is important.
“I know for a fact people have adjusted their lifestyles because they do not feel safe,” Whitmire said. “Seniors don’t go out at night, families don’t go to the parks, that’s not the way great cities live.”
Here’s the following problems Whitmire says he and other law enforcement are doing to mitigate crime:
- Drawing up actions plans
- Address forensics taking way too long to do examinations
- Getting all judges onboard and realize everyone is in this together
- Continue pursuit reducing backlog
- Address homeless issue
- Look into police response times
- Take bond system into consideration
- Address morals of police officers
- Higher priority to get repeat violent offenders off the streets of Houston
- Serious recruitment in HPD to attract additional officers to help fight crime
- Address city and state revenue cap to add additional resources to help law enforcement and criminal system
Currently, the mayor said there are 900 people on the streets of Houston charged with murder or capital murder -- waiting to go to court to be held accountable. He said the hundreds of criminals are either on bond or fugitives.
“I will do whatever it takes to make Houston a safe city,” Whitmire said.
HPD Chief Finner said the staffing and budget is not where it should be but says the mayor and him had discussion on how they will work together to do their best for the city.
Watch the full news conference below: