The mother of a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Minnesota police this week says it all started when police pulled her son over for having air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror.

HOUSTON – The number of homicides in Houston this year are now the highest they have been in at least 15 years. Even more disturbing is that Houston added 31 homicides just in the past two weeks – Nov. 21 to Dec. 4. Gamaldi said on Nov. 10 that if the city reaches 400 homicides this year, that would be the highest since the 1980s. “Because we know, historically, when you increase your footprint in an area, violent crime goes down,” Acevedo said. Additionally, the clearance rate of homicides, meaning the number of cases where an arrest has been made, is lower than last year.

HOUSTON – The number of homicides reported in Houston this year is the highest since at least 2015. Data from the Houston Police Department showed the number of homicides reported in 2020 in the city is at 345. Joe Gamaldi, of the Houston Police Officers Union, said 2020′s number is approaching the most homicides in two decades -- 377 were reported in 2005. Over the past six years, the lowest number of homicides reported in Houston was 269 in 2017. There’s no question about that.”“When you look at the numbers this year, the numbers are exponentially higher,” Turner added.

HOUSTON – The Houston police officer who died two years after being seriously injured in what was called a “freak accident” will be laid to rest Wednesday. Senior Officer Jerry Flores, who was assigned to the Houston Police Department’s gang division fell from a golf cart in April 2018 and hit his head on concrete. Flores died last week at 56. Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union, said Monday that visitation and a rosary will be held for Flores on Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 4918 Cochran St. in Houston. The visitation starts at 5 p.m. and the rosary begins at 7 p.m.Gamaldi said Flores' funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Community Church at 7810 Cypresswood Drive in Spring.

HOUSTON – A Houston police officer who was seriously injured in what was described as a “freak accident” two years ago died early Thursday. Senior Officer Jerry Flores, who was assigned to the Houston Police Department’s gang division fell from a golf cart in April 2018 and hit his head on concrete. With his incredible family’s permission, I am sad to report our dear friend and retired HPD Officer Jerry Flores passed away this morning. Today we lost Senior Police Officer Jerry Flores, a kind, generous man who never met a stranger & did so much for so many. Hunt said that he first met Officer Flores when he joined HPD more than two decades ago.

HOUSTON A Houston police officer was relieved of duty after making a social media post with racial overtones, according to police. On Twitter, the Houston Police Department wrote that the incident is being investigated by the Internal affairs department. We are aware of a social media post with racial overtones by an HPD employee. Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 13, 2020Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said he was made aware of the social media post and was disgusted. Gamaldi said he is confident the department will take action and that the officer who made the post does not represent Houston police officers.

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner explained what Houstonians were asking his administration to do in the days since police brutality in the city and country has come under the spotlight. Mayor Turner’s comments come at a time when police departments nationwide are being scrutinized for their funding and how funds are utilized. “A lot of people think that we are defunding the police department and that is absolutely not what we are doing,” Plummer said. If we can save them from early on, we can prevent them from getting into the system,” said Plummer. Joe Gamaldi, president of HPD’s Union did not comment, only stating that he is waiting to see how the budget process plays out on Wednesday at City Hall.

HOUSTON Houston police Chief Art Acevedo spoke to a national television audience Thursday night about transparency during an NBC News special. But just a few hours earlier, Houston Polie Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi had criticized Acevedo for his lack of transparency in a surprising statement. Ive said before and Ill say it again, I believe in transparency, Acevedo said last week. If the Chief is committed to transparency and he says it out loud then lets do it, Wu said. Pollard feels Acevedos "actions need to match his words.The Houston Police Officers Union sent all city council members and Mayor Sylvester Turner a statement calling for transparency from Acevedo.

HOUSTON – George Floyd’s death and in the protests and marches that followed, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo has been making the rounds on national media. “Yeah, we looked into it,” said Houston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi. “What our officers were telling us is that it was people of all races that were throwing water bottles, throwing rocks or throwing bricks,” Gamaldi says. “Frankly we don’t care who the race is of the person throwing a rock at our officers,” Gamaldi said. So without further clarification and no evidence to support his claim, we rate this red on the Channel 2 Trust Index.

HOUSTON – The voices calling for transparency and independent police oversight grew louder following several recent officer-involved shootings and the death of George Floyd. Houston has a long-established independent police oversight board, but critics question whether the board is given enough authority. “The structure and the bones are there for the oversight board but it needs to be built upon.”President of the Houston Police Officers’ Union Joe Gamaldi argues the oversight board has a “robust set of powers.”“We have embraced the independent oversight board, we are not scared of another set of eyes. Gamaldi said the oversight board does make recommendations on officer discipline and training. During a recent protest seeking justice for Floyd in Houston, Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo was embraced by some while excoriated by others.

Community organizations and families are seeking for the department to release body cams from officer-involved shootings. The Houston Police Officers Union, which represents the officers wearing the body cams, also pushed the department to release the videos. Gamaldis comments come during a stretch where HPD has seen six officer-involved shooting deaths since April. Ive said before and Ill say it again, I believe in transparency," Acevedo said. Mayor Sylvester Turner also was unavailable to respond to multiple requests surrounding the challenges families are facing with HPD and transparency.

Published: May 3, 2020, 4:32 pm Updated: May 4, 2020, 5:34 amHouston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi encourages Houstonians to donate to Assist the Officer, which will deliver all donations to the family of Houston Police Department Officer Jason Knox. Assist the Officer is a financial assistance program providing short-term, immediate financial support to peace officers in the Greater Houston area who face catastrophic injury in the line of duty. Knox died on Saturday after being involved in a helicopter crash while on patrol in Houston. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Turner made his position clear regarding Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's nose and mouth cover order. In an interview with KPRC 2 Investigates, Gamaldi called the order unconstitutional. So that means you have discretion, discretion, discretion," he said. "If Harris County did it, Fort Bend is going to do it, and it's the best thing to do," said Fort Bend resident Shandle Pearson. On Thursday afternoon, Fort Bend said it would not be issuing a mask covering order.

HOUSTON – To reduce the threat of a coronavirus outbreak in Harris County Jail, a judge has ordered some nonviolent felony defendants to be released on personal recognizance bond to relieve overcrowding. On Saturday, Harris County Administrative Judge Herb Ritchie issued a general order bond, requiring the immediate release of any defendants booked into the jail on any of the 18 nonviolent state jail felonies who are not already on probation or facing other charges. In issuing the order, Harris County is following the lead of other counties and municipalities from California to Maine that are taking aggressive steps to reduce jail populations. “That is very much an issue that we continue to work on, to continue to find what solutions there may be,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. President Joe Gamaldi contending that while the defendants may be nonviolent, some are career criminals who shouldn’t be released without posting a cash bond.