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Houston Chief Seeks More Officers

Dateline: Houston, Texas - 12/3/2005

Houston Chronicle

Houston's police chief spoke out Friday about recent concerns raised over a staffing shortage in the Houston Police Department, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Chief Harold Hurtt agreed with his critics in the police union that the department needs more manpower. But he said plans have been in the works for months to increase the number of officers through streamlining and overtime.

Hurtt said police response time in Houston is among the best in the nation for major, violent crimes -- an average of 4.8 minutes. But, to achieve that, the department often diverts officers from low-priority calls.

"As a result of that, we have seen somewhat of an increase in responding to the lesser important calls where life and property is not an immediate threat," Hurtt said.

The police union documented 500 police calls in October where victims waited up to 12 hours and 39 minutes for an officer to arrive.

Union president Hans Marticiuc told city council that what's needed is more overtime and less paperwork to put more officers on the street.

"A lot of these issues that were brought up was already on our table for discussion and planning," Hurtt said.

The chief said the department has budgeted $4 million in overtime for the rest of the year. The city is also accelerating police cadet classes, and moving to free up officers currently working jail jobs.

To alleviate paperwork, the department will buy 2,200 laptop computers for officers and set up an Internet site for crime reporting.

"Within the year, hopefully, we'll be in a position were citizens will be able to report some minor offenses online," Hurtt said.

Even with the changes, the department will not be able to keep up with officer attrition. About 700 officers have retired over the past two years and Hurtt expects to lose 200 more each year, for the next five years.

HPD currently has 4,728 officers. The chief said he'd like to have an additional 1,700.

You're hijacking one of his media moments!

Apparently, he's the PIO up there and will have many more opportunities-self-initiated-to talk to the press. I dont see how they work with him up there.