Willowbend is a neighborhood in near Southwest Houston , Texas .
77-550: Willowbend is just outside the 610 Loop and inside Beltway 8 . The neighborhood is bound by the following streets: S. Post Oak Road to the West, Greenwillow Drive to the East, Briarbend Drive to the South, and Hazelton Street to North. The subdivision's main thoroughfare is Willowbend Boulevard with its center point at Willowbend and Cliffwood. Surrounding neighborhoods, include: Willow Meadows to
154-580: A 700-square-mile (1,800 km ) area. HPD has two helicopters in the air for up to 21 hours a day. All pilots and tactical flight officers are sworn Houston police officers. Most Houston police officers now carry SIG Sauer P229 , SIG Sauer P226 , SIG Sauer P220 , Glock 22 , Glock 23 or the Smith & Wesson M&P40 .40 (S&W) caliber semi-automatic handguns. They are also armed with TASER X26 tasers . Tenured officers whose handguns are " grandfathered in" are still allowed to carry their weapons after
231-584: A Motorist's Bill of Rights and were required to pay a sum to the City of Houston after the towing had taken place. The program was initially very unpopular among Houston residents. Frequent complaints were that the program unfairly punished lower-income motorists by enforcing a high towing fee and that the program could potentially damage vehicles that required special tow trucks and equipment to be safely towed away. Other complaints were that stranded motorists did not have an option to choose their own garage. The city and
308-428: A contract was approved, enforcement went online on September 1, 2006. Those running a red light at one of the 50 locations with cameras are fined a $ 75 civil fine as opposed to a $ 225 moving violation which goes against the vehicle operator. There are fifty intersections with red light cameras in the city with cameras (twenty intersections were added where dual cameras were installed). A majority of them are located at
385-641: A decade later), is being phased out for a black and white color scheme where 100 vehicles are painted from $ 60,000 earmarked from asset forfeiture funds (under HPD policy the previous livery is still used in service until official retirement). HPD squads are usually retired when the vehicle reaches 100,000 miles (they are not reassigned to reserve or secondary duty as with the Austin or San Antonio PD after 80,000 miles) - some squads dating over 10 model years old which are no longer used for patrol duty are usually reassigned either as bait squads (HPD will park an unmanned squad in
462-448: A decrease of 10.4% since Safe Clear's implementation. In December 2004, Chief Hurtt stated that he was looking in to installing red light cameras that would automatically ticket drivers that ran red lights . He had previously overseen the installation of cameras in Oxnard, California , where following the installation, side-impact collisions had decreased by 68 percent. In the same month,
539-625: A high crime area or illegal dumping site) or the Mobility Response Division - the older HPD fleet used by Mobility Response have been retired and replaced with Ford F150 extended cab pickup trucks from the Truck Enforcement Unit. Around 2016 the Houston Chronicle revealed that some of the older squads are still in service but the breakdown rate has increased - a 100,000 mile marked squad (or 120,000 mile unmarked vehicle) has
616-470: A joint venture between the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department. The intention of the program was to decrease the freeway accidents and traffic jams that occurred due to stalled drivers. Select tow truck companies across the city were authorized to tow a stalled vehicle as soon as possible after being notified by an HPD officer. Persons having their vehicle towed were provided with
693-553: A local mother. She told them that her son, Josiah Sutton, had been tried for rape in 1999 and found guilty based upon HPD Crime Lab testing. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. So KHOU began to take an intensive look at the Sutton case. Raziq and Werner analyzed the HPD lab's DNA report with the help of DNA expert Bill Thompson of the University of California-Irvine. They found obvious mistakes in
770-419: A more specific part of a portion of the loop and this does not denote the direction of traffic flow. For example: Starting at US 290, moving in a clockwise direction, mainlane counts are as follows: The concept of building a bypass highway around Houston was first proposed in 1931, but plans did not begin to formalize until 1941. The loop was initially proposed to transport troops and materials around
847-434: A new 60-member crime reduction unit that will serve as a citywide tactical squad. The police chief said the effort will put more officers to work immediately in troubled areas of the city such as Third Ward and Acres Homes , where the bodies of seven women have been found in the past two years. The crime rate, particularly for violent offenses, since the latter part of 2005, when an influx of hurricane evacuees increased
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#1732880752542924-443: A park operated by the City of Houston, is located at 10400 Cliffwood, adjacent to Red Elementary School [3] . The large park features a playground, picnic facilities, a softball/soccer field, tennis courts and a small parking lot. It is the central spot of the neighborhood. A new sand volleyball court was added to the park in 2008. Across the street, there is a lovely neighborhood pool with verdant green lawns, plenty of shade trees and
1001-566: A thoroughfare at a freeway intersection - primarily in the Galleria and southwest Houston. During a Houston City Council meeting on 6.11.08, council member James Rodriguez suggested the installation of an additional 200 cameras. A voter referendum during the 2010 Texas gubernatorial elections to eliminate red-light cameras passed. The referendum that passed in November 2010 was later invalidated by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes June 17, 2011 citing that
1078-477: A toddler, and an elderly woman and injured two others. Several of the victims were walking home from Red Elementary School when shot. Casey remains in prison for the murders, which occurred on Greenwillow, Willowilde, Benning, Creekbend streets and near the intersection of Cliffwood and Stillbrooke drives. Willowbend is in Texas’ 9th congressional district as of the 2021 87th legislative session redistricting Willowbend
1155-1165: A world-class swim team (Willow Wahoos). Willow Park is in Willow Meadows Section 3. The Bellaire Texan , which served the Willowbend community in the mid-20th Century, was headquartered in Bellaire and published by the Texan Publishing Corporation. By 1975 it became known as the Bellaire & Southwestern Texan and was published by the Preston Publishing Company. It was then headquartered in Houston. See also: List of companies in Houston See: List of colleges and universities in Houston [REDACTED] Category [REDACTED] Texas portal 29°39′56″N 95°27′04″W / 29.6655°N 95.4510°W / 29.6655; -95.4510 610 Loop Interstate 610 ( I-610 )
1232-444: Is a bayou that runs through the neighborhood. Willow Creek empties into the larger Braes Bayou. During Hurricane Harvey , some houses near the creek sustained substantial flooding, necessitating remediation and repairs. Some damaged homes were razed and replaced with new and larger residences. In 1973, Willowbend was the site of attacks committed by Larry Delon Casey. Casey, upset about his father's death, gunned down three schoolgirls,
1309-551: Is a unique and attractive feature of the neighborhood as it features horses, cows, jack rabbits, turtles, crawfish, natural ponds, snakes, and other wildlife. Many children have enjoyed the opportunity to explore the land and learn about animals and nature while surrounded by Houston's vibrant metropolitan region. Willow Water Hole is also located adjacent to the neighborhood to the south along South Post Oak Boulevard. Willow Water Hole hosts regular nature-oriented events as well as an award-winning annual music festival. Willow Creek
1386-512: Is also a small fleet of Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Camaros , which are mainly used as "stealth traffic patrol vehicles" (which is part of the Traffic Enforcement division). The stealth vehicles are plain white police cars with a slicktop roof and gray, reflective "HOUSTON POLICE" graphics on the side as well as on the front bumper, and hidden emergency lights that are driven by uniformed officers. The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
1463-488: Is also used in this manner - as of late 2011 the stealth patrol vehicles are now painted black. The stealth squads have been supplemented with 14 Ford Taurus Police Interceptors in early 2014 (painted black). Solo (motorcycle) officers use Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The patrol vehicle livery, painted white with blue lettered graphics dating back to 1999 (which replaced the Columbia Blue livery last used in 1998 and retired
1540-453: Is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that forms a 37.972-mile-long (61.110 km) loop around the inner city sector of the city of Houston, Texas . I-610, colloquially known as The Loop , Loop 610 , The Inner Loop , or just 610 , traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston ("inside the Loop") and its surrounding areas. It is the innermost of the three Houston beltways ,
1617-540: Is in Downtown Houston . The Chief of Police is J. Noe Diaz. HPD divides the city into 13 patrol divisions. Each division is divided into one or more districts and each district is divided further into one or more beats . Stations are operated and staffed 24 hours a day. HPD also operates 29 store front locations throughout the city. These store fronts are not staffed 24 hours a day, and generally open at either 7:00 or 8:00 AM, and close at 5:00 PM. Downtown Houston
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#17328807525421694-865: Is in Houston City Council District K. Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated Valbona Health Center (formerly People's Health Center) in Greater Sharpstown for ZIP code 77035. The nearest public hospital is Ben Taub General Hospital in the Texas Medical Center . Willowbend residents are zoned to the following Houston ISD schools: Red Elementary School, Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School (formerly Johnston Middle School), and Westbury High School . Meyerland Middle-zoned residents may attend Pin Oak Middle School . Red Elementary School
1771-478: Is located in Willowbend Section 4. Named after doctor Samuel Clark Red, it opened in 1957. It received a magnet program in mathematics, science, and technology, converted into a full STEM magnet in 2012. Circa 2019 it had about 600 students. The Robert M. Beren Academy , a K-12 Judaic school, is located in the area [1] . Trafton Academy (Pre-K through 8) is also in the area. Ms. Wagner's School became
1848-525: Is patrolled by the Downtown Division, and the Houston Airport System facilities have their own divisions. A map of all stations and store front locations can be found at the HPD web site. The Houston Police Department administrative offices and investigative offices are at 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston . The 61 Riesner site houses the HPD central patrol office, the municipal jail, and
1925-647: Is the fifth-largest municipal police department, serving the fourth-largest city in the United States. Its headquarters are at 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston . HPD's jurisdiction often overlaps with several other law enforcement agencies, among them the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County Constable Precincts. HPD is the largest municipal police department in Texas. Houston
2002-596: The Fair Labor Standards Act due to their managerial responsibilities. After 12 years of HPD service and obtaining a TCOLE Master Peace Officer certification, an officer becomes a senior officer. This rank was created in 2001. Promotion to sergeant through captain all occur via a civil service formula that factors into account performance on the written examination for the respective rank, assessment score, years of service, and level of higher education or 4 years of military service. Officers are eligible to take
2079-622: The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor . The department is continuing to test new Chevy Caprice PPV models and Ford Taurus Interceptors (including the fifth-generation Explorer) as well - the test mules as of 2015 have been integrated into the mainstream vehicle fleet. It also uses pickup trucks from the Big Three , such as the Chevrolet Colorado , Ford F150 , and Dodge Ram for their Truck Enforcement Unit. There
2156-612: The Glock 30 and Smith & Wesson M&P 45c . Also in 2013, HPD began to issue the TASER X2 in place of the TASER X26. As of September 2015, M1911 pistols in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP are authorized for uniformed officers as well as 9mm and .45 ACP versions of all previously authorized pistols. Plainclothes officers are now authorized to carry the Glock 43 or Smith & Wesson M&P Shield as their primary weapon. As of January 2016,
2233-524: The SIG Sauer P320 in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP is approved for uniformed officers to carry. Also, EOTech electronic optical sights have been removed from the list of red dot sights that are allowed on patrol rifles. However, Aimpoint electronic optical sights are still allowed. Officers graduating from Cadet Class 231 or later are only authorized to carry the SIG Sauer P320, the Glock 17 , or
2310-539: The Texas Medical Center , and the Interstate 610 loop. The neighborhood has hosted a number of youth sports programs such as the Willow Creek Little League, FUN Football Raiders, or Red Raiders. Many athletes got their start in these youth leagues. The eastern and southern sides of the neighborhood are bounded a large field which forms a buffer between the railroad tracks and Willowbend homes. This large field
2387-408: The loop clearing traffic problems. They report traffic light outages, issue parking citations, help clear and direct traffic around minor accidents, or traffic jams during special events in the area. The duties will only involve surface streets and not the freeways and will be using scooters and police cruisers fitted with yellow flashing lights rather than the typical red and blue lights. This
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2464-446: The 1930s and 1940s, the HPD found itself growing and acquiring more technology to keep up with the city's fast pace. The first homicide division was established in 1930. During that same year, the HPD purchased newer weapons to arm their officers: standard issue .44 caliber revolvers and two Thompson submachine guns . In 1939, the department proudly presented its first police academy class. The Houston Police Officers Association (HPOA)
2541-547: The CBS local TV station KHOU began broadcasting a multi-part investigation into the accuracy of the HPD Crime Lab's findings. Particularly of interest to the reporters were criminal cases that involved DNA analysis and serological (body fluid) testing. Night after night journalists David Raziq, Anna Werner and Chris Henao presented case after case in which the lab's work was dangerously sloppy or just plain wrong and may have been sending
2618-677: The City of Houston Planning Department, which was renamed the Neighborhood Protection Corps in 2005. Annise Parker , Mayor White's successor, moved the Neighborhood Protection Corps into the Department of Neighborhoods when the new city division was established in August 2011 - the NPC was renamed as the Inspections and Public Service division of the Department of Neighborhoods. In November 2002,
2695-430: The City of Houston's first African-American mayor in 1998. While Brown was considered a successful chief, he also earned the unflattering moniker "Out of Town Brown" for his many lengthy trips away from Houston during his tenure. Brown's appointment was controversial from the start. Traditional HPD officers frowned upon Brown because he was an outsider from Atlanta, Georgia where he was the police commissioner; to become
2772-467: The HPD addressed these concerns with program improvements that provided funds to pay for short tows that removed stalled vehicles from the freeway and then allowed drivers to choose their own garage and tow companies once they were safely off the freeway. Studies released in February 2006 indicate that Safe Clear has been successful during its fledgling year. There were 1,533 fewer freeway accidents in 2005,
2849-531: The HPD. In 1970, the Helicopter Patrol Division was created with three leased helicopters. That year also marked the department's first purchase of bulletproof vests for their officers. The HPD's first Special Weapons and Tactics squad ( SWAT ) was formed in 1975. In 1982, the Houston Police Department appointed its first African-American chief of police, Lee P. Brown , who succeeded B.K.Johnson. Brown served as chief from 1982 to 1990 and later became
2926-530: The Houston City Council unanimously voted for red light camera enforcement. After, Texas State Representative Gary Elkins (R-TX) introduced legislation to deter Houston from amending its city charter for the red light camera rule to be enforced. After this measure failed in the Texas Senate although in 2005, four intersections in downtown Houston were used as testbeds for red light camera equipment. When
3003-406: The Houston Police Department , author and academic Dwight Watson writes that "HPD zealously enforced racial segregation in Houston". In 1967, a civil rights protest at Texas Southern University turned into what police say was a riot. One officer was killed and nearly 500 students were arrested. It was as a result of these riots that the still-active Community Relations Division was created within
3080-423: The Houston Police Department. Due to growing traffic concerns in downtown Houston, the HPD purchased its first automobile in 1910 and created its first traffic squad during that same year. Eleven years later, in 1921, the HPD installed the city's first traffic light . This traffic light was manually operated until 1927, when automatic traffic lights were installed. As Houston became a larger metropolis throughout
3157-591: The Houston and surrounding areas which out paces national trends. According to the investigation HPD pursued more high-speed chases than Los Angeles; more than Chicago; and more than the next three largest Texas cities after Houston (San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin) combined. The investigation also found that more than eighty percent of the pursuits were done in Black and or Latino communities and were in pursuit of Black and or Brown people. The Houston Police Helicopter Division celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010. The unit
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3234-825: The North Loop, the South Loop, the East Loop, and the West Loop. The North Loop runs from U.S. Highway 290 (US 290) to US 90 , the East Loop runs from US 90 to SH 225 , the West Loop runs from US 290 to the South Post Oak Road spur, and the South Loop runs from South Post Oak Road to SH 225. Sometimes, a direction name is added as a suffix to denote
3311-542: The North, Meyerland to the Northwest, Westbury to the West. Willowbend is surrounded by numerous points of interest, including: Willow Waterhole Park, Meyerland Plaza, The Texas Medical Center, and NRG Stadium. Willowbend is a comfortable upper middle-class residential neighborhood in southwest Houston, Texas. It has become a highly desirable neighborhood due to its low crime rate, friendly residents, and proximity downtown Houston,
3388-629: The Plymouth Gran Fury (both R and M platform) last used in 1989)). They have Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models from dating from 1999 to 2011. Since Ford no longer produces the "crown Vic" (procurement of the Crown Vic ended in April 2011 when the orders were filled), The department has chosen to phase in the Chevy Tahoe PPV and Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Explorer) as the successor to
3465-609: The Smith & Wesson M&P in 9mm as their primary weapon while in uniform. These are the current ranks of the Houston Police Department: Those with the rank of sergeant or above are supervisors and are issued gold badges whereas officers are issued silver badges. Lieutenants and above may also be referred to as commanders. For example, they hold position titles including "shift commander", "night commander", "division commander", etc. They are also exempt employees under
3542-405: The chief with the approval of the mayor. Such individuals must hold at least a master's degree and have 5 years of HPD service. It is not required to move through every rank below to achieve a higher rank. For example, many officers promote directly to sergeant without ever being senior officers. Also, many assistant chiefs are promoted directly from the rank of lieutenant. Councilman C.O. Bradford
3619-533: The city's population by more than 100,000, and incidents spiked in certain neighborhoods. In 2013 Jo DePrang of the Texas Observer wrote that "According to citizens, community activists, a veteran Houston police officer and even the president of the local police union, the scenario of multiple officers beating an unarmed suspect happens nearly every day." From circa 2007-2013 there were 588 times observers reported what they deemed inappropriate "use of force", and
3696-596: The city. On May 3, Harris County voters approved a bond to build the "Defense Loop". It was officially designated as Loop 137 in 1942, and the North Loop was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission . World War II delayed construction of the loop until the 1950s. In July 1953, the city of Houston asked the Texas Transportation Commission to include two new sections of Loop 137 (the West and South loops) as part of
3773-577: The crime lab. The New York Times asked the question, "Worst Crime Lab in the Country?" in a March 2003 article. Beginning in early 2003, the HPD Crime Lab began cooperating with outside DNA testing facilities to review criminal cases involving cases or convictions associated with Crime Lab evidence. However, this again came as a result of some prompting investigatory work done by the TV station KHOU. Reporters David Raziq, Anna Werner and Chris Henao got an e-mail from
3850-547: The employees' punishments . Irma Rios was hired in 2003 as Lab Director, replacing Interim Lab Director Frank Fitzpatrick. In May 2005, the Houston Police Department announced that with much effort and coordination on their part, they had received national accreditation through the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD). The ASCLD stated that the lab had met or exceeded standards for accreditation in all areas except DNA. Through independent research and testing, it
3927-511: The innocent to prison while letting the guilty go free. As a result of those broadcasts, at the end of the week the Houston Police Department declared they would have a team of independent scientists audit the lab and its procedures. However, the audit's findings were so troublesome that one month later, in mid- December, HPD closed the DNA section of the laboratory. Not only did the audit bolster KHOU's report but also found that samples were contaminated and
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#17328807525424004-537: The internal affairs division dismissed 584 of them, with the other four being pursued. In the morning of May 2, 2020, HPD's helicopter crashed in an apartment complex in north Houston, killing officer Jason Knox and injuring another. The Houston Police Department is headed by a chief of police appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. This position is aided by two executive assistant chiefs, ten assistant chiefs, 44 captains, approximately 220 lieutenants and 900 sergeants. HPD headquarters, 1200 Travis ,
4081-409: The lab's files were very poorly maintained. The audit revealed that a section of the lab's roof was leaking into sample-containment areas, lab technicians were seriously undereducated or unqualified for their jobs, samples had been incorrectly tagged, and samples had been contaminated through improper handling. Worse, many people had been convicted and sent to prison based upon the evidence contained in
4158-580: The life expectancy of an automobile with 300,000 miles with regular maintenance. At the time HPD ordered 50 new Ford Police Interceptor Utilities for the command staff but not the mainstream vehicle fleet (the department has procured newer vehicles but the budget crunch has taken in a few new orders whilst the older squads are still operational. A budget crunch in major Texas cities is partly to blame where municipal budgets are usually slashed including priority spending for first responders. Most modern HPD Patrol cars today are Blue and white saying " HOUSTON POLICE" on
4235-588: The lower grades of Trafton Academy. Trafton Academy is located in Willowbend Section 2. The Emery/Weiner School is east of the subdivision bordering the Westwood subdivision. Houston Community College System serves the neighborhood. The neighborhood is within the Houston Police Department 's Southwest Patrol Division [2] . Neighborhood residents also make yearly contributions for additional security patrols by off-duty police officers. Willow Park,
4312-472: The mandated .40 (S&W) requirement. This allows some officers to still carry .38 Special , .357 Magnum , .44 Magnum , and .45 Colt revolvers. Chief Charles McClelland while chief, carried a Colt 1911 Mk. IV Government Model as his sidearm. Officers are also allowed to carry an AR-15 rifle, Ruger Mini-14 rifle, Remington 870 shotgun, Benelli M1 Super 90 shotgun and M2 Super 90 shotgun. The SWAT unit uses several kinds of automatic weapons, and
4389-585: The opening of the Sidney Sherman Bridge over the Houston Ship Channel . Construction on the North Loop began in 1950. Construction was sporadic throughout the 1950s and 1960s. It was completed in 1976 with the interchange that connects I-610 to I-10 east of Houston. In the early 1990s, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) proposed a widening project for the West Loop, which, at
4466-752: The other two being Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Parkway/Tollway) and State Highway 99 (SH 99; Grand Parkway), of which various segments are under construction or planning. In Houston, the area inside I-610 is the urban core. Jeff Balke of the Houston Press wrote that the freeway "is as much a social and philosophical divide as a physical one". Mike Snyder in the Houston Chronicle wrote that, as someone from inside I-610, he historically felt "kind of special" due to being close to "the city's historical core and its major business, educational and cultural institutions". Major segments of I-610 are known as
4543-423: The police chief in Houston, an officer has to advance through the rank and file although the " good old boy " culture was prevalent. The HPD paved a new road again in 1990 when Mayor Kathy Whitmire appointed Elizabeth Watson as the first female chief of police. Elizabeth Watson served from 1990 to 1992 and was followed by Sam Nuchia , who served as police chief from 1992 to 1997. In 1997, Clarence O. Bradford
4620-589: The rate of officers per capita is above the national median for large cities, at 2.23 officers per 1,000 residents. As of 2015, the department uses a large number of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors as their main fleet of patrol vehicles which was first ordered in 1996 replacing the Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (used between 1988 and in patrol service until 2004 (replacing the Ford LTD Crown Victoria squads to 1987 along with M-bodied Mopars (primarily
4697-597: The referendum violated the city charter despite the contract with American Traffic Solutions, which provided the camera equipment. The cameras were expected to be reactivated after midnight on July 24, 2011; plans were underway to have this judicial ruling heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit . On July 2, 2007, Mayor Bill White started a new program called the "Mobility Response Team". Staffed by traffic enforcement officers patrol within
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#17328807525424774-463: The report that the lab should have known about. Not long after that broadcast, the HPD agreed to an immediate retest of the DNA evidence in the Sutton case. Those tests showed the DNA collected in the case did not belong to Sutton. He was released from prison in March 2003 and given a full pardon in 2004. As a result of the scandal, nine Crime Lab technicians were disciplined with suspensions and one analyst
4851-424: The sergeant's promotion exam after 5 years of service. Sergeants and lieutenants are eligible to take the promotion exam of the next higher rank after 2 years of service in their current rank. Candidates for lieutenant must hold at least 65 college hours or an associate degree. Candidates for the rank of commander must hold at least a bachelor's degree. Assistant chiefs and executive assistant chiefs are appointed by
4928-457: The side. Newer models use a mixture of black and white paint now with 911 EMERGENCY listed on the rear side of the car or truck. A 2023 Houston Chronicle investigation found that high-speed chases by HPD officers rose significantly between 2018 and 2022, leaving hundreds of bystanders injured or dead. At least 240 bystanders were injured or killed during the five-year period as a result of these chases. Chases of these kinds have increased by 47% in
5005-523: The state's highway system. It was initially rejected, but, in October 1954, the North Loop was upgraded to a freeway, and the West and South loops were approved as freeways. When the Interstate Highway System was authorized in 1956, the then-C-shaped Loop 137 (now designated I-610) was adopted into the plan. The East Loop would not be approved until 1960. That segment was finished in 1973 with
5082-495: The state, based on annual hours of delay per mile. Parts of I-610 flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The entire highway is in Harris County . Houston Police Department The Houston Police Department ( HPD ) is the primary municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston , Texas , United States and some surrounding areas. With approximately 5,300 officers and 1,200 civilian support personnel it
5159-417: The time, was the busiest freeway in Houston. One of the proposals was for a dual–dual freeway with a total of 24 lanes in some places, which would have made it the widest freeway in the world. Amid vocal opposition and little apparent support, the plans for expansion were canceled. In the late 1990s, the need to repave and reconstruct portions of the West Loop became evident. The reconstruction project
5236-480: The transportation department. The 33 Artesian facility houses the communication and maintenance facilities. In December 2013 the city announced that it has plans to build a new headquarters for HPD and the city courts. By the end of 1989 the police department had established 19 storefronts and planned to open 10 additional storefronts in 1990. In 2023, HPD had the highest median overall pay of all City of Houston departments, at $ 97,792. A 2023 investigation found that
5313-432: Was appointed as chief. In 2002, Bradford was indicted and later acquitted of perjury charges, stemming from an incident in which he allegedly lied under oath about cursing fellow officers. Since 1992, the Houston City Marshal's division, Houston Airport Police, and Houston Park Police were absorbed into HPD. In early 2004, during Mayor Bill White's first term in office, HPD absorbed the Neighborhood Protection division from
5390-416: Was approved, but only as a "no-capacity-added" project; only safety and structural improvements could be made. Some Houston residents, however, have noted that merging lanes and exit ramps are particularly long and, in effect, serve as additional lanes. As of 2014 , the segment of the West Loop from the Katy Freeway (I-10) to the Southwest Freeway (I-69) is ranked by TxDOT as the most congested roadway in
5467-425: Was created in 1945. This organization later became the Houston Police Officers Union. The first African American woman police officer on the force, Margie Duty , joined the HPD in 1953, starting in the Juvenile Division. Some historians have asserted that the HPD enforced an oppressive racial system that targeted blacks for harassment and failed to protect the black community during the Jim Crow era. In Race and
5544-507: Was determined in January 2006 that of 1,100 samples reviewed, 40% of DNA samples and 23% of blood evidence samples had serious problems. On June 11, 2007, the HPD crime lab reported its DNA section had gained full accreditation from ASCLD. In the October 6, 2007 The Houston Chronicle published allegations of Employees cheating on an open-book proficiency test. The Safe Clear program was implemented by Mayor Bill White on January 1, 2005, as
5621-558: Was formed with three leased Schweizer-Hughes 269B helicopters and has flown almost exclusively Schweizer or McDonnell Douglas helicopters. With 16 helicopters, the division is the third largest air support unit in the United States after the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department . In 2008 the department acquired new MD500E helicopters. The department also has Schweizer 300 helicopters for training. The helicopter division patrols about
5698-485: Was founded by brothers Augustus and John Kirby Allen in 1836 and incorporated as a city the next year, 1837. As the capital city of the Republic of Texas , it quickly grew, and so did the need for a cohesive law enforcement agency. The Houston Police Department was founded in 1841. The first HPD badge issued bore the number "1." The early part of the 20th century was a time of enormous growth for both Houston and for
5775-560: Was part of the mayor's plan to improve mobility in city and is the first of its kind in the United States. The city's mobility response team cost $ 1.8 million a year to operate. Hurtt spent around $ 24 million on overtime pay through 2010. That money would continue to bolster an understaffed force as police commanders try to increase their ranks. The overtime that is planned would be about equal to 500,000 police hours of which would help bolster various departments including, vice, Westside patrol and traffic enforcement, among other areas including
5852-464: Was terminated. However, that analyst was fully reinstated to her previous position in January 2004, less than one month after her December 2003 termination. Many HPD supervisors and Houston residents called for more stringent disciplinary actions against the Crime Lab employees. However, the city panel responsible for disciplining the lab technicians repeatedly resisted these arguments and instead reduced
5929-639: Was the first local law enforcement agency in the United States to adopt the FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon. Former Chief Art Acevedo carried a Smith & Wesson M&P and it is also the standard sidearm of the Austin Police Department from which he came. As of November 2013, HPD has allowed officers to carry pistols chambered in .45 ACP . The Glock 21 , SIG Sauer P227 , and Smith & Wesson M&P 45 are approved sidearms for uniformed officers. Plainclothes officers may carry
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