The Harris County Star - Harris County Deputies` Organization

Transcription

The Harris County Star
Official Publication of The Harris County Deputies’ Organization
April 2013
www.hcdo.com
The Voice of Harris County Law Enforcement
Vol. 25, No. 4
Texas House debates bill to fast-track police
jobs for ex-military, called ‘Chris Kyle’ bill
By Teresa Woodard, WFAA
AUSTIN -- He had so many titles,
but he wanted one more: Chris Kyle
wanted to be a cop.
“It was important to him, he wanted
it, he was excited about the process of
getting a badge," said his widow,
Taya, in Austin.
Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield,
were killed in early February on a gun
range, allegedly by a veteran they
were trying to help. Chris Kyle's police
officer dreams couldn't come true, but
perhaps other people's dreams can,
and fast.
Taya Kyle went to Austin to hear
the first public testimony about a proposal to change Texas law. It would
allow military veterans who prove their
skills to skip out on certain parts of the
police academy, streamlining access
to employment.
"We have this pool of skilled people
that we need to take advantage of,"
said Rep. Dan Flynn of Van Zandt
County, the sponsor of the bill.
He calls his bill a "jobs bill." It will
likely be renamed for Chris Kyle.
Chris was on
his way to becoming a police
officer with the
Dalworthington
Gardens Police
Department.
“Chris
was
going to go to
th e
f ul l - t im e
academy," said
Chief Bill Waybourn, a friend of
Kyle's. "The police
academy
he’d be attending, the range
officer there [is a
young man] I
coached in baseball, and now
he’d have to supervise
Chris
Kyle for 60 hours
of gun range
training. Seemed a little silly.”
HCSO Operation Red Light
On the evening of February 20,
2013, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted “Operation Red Light”
with the assistance of various law enforcement agencies including; Harris
County Precinct 4 Constables Office,
US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE), and the Harris County Fire
Marshal’s Office (HCFMO).
The operation targeted eight massage parlors in various locations
around the County as follow up to the
recently adopted Harris County Sexually Oriented Business (SOB) Ordinances, and complaints by citizens of
these businesses.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested 16
employees of these establishments.
The Harris County District Attorney’s
Office (DA) accepted over 24 charges
on them. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (HCFMO) designated 48
fire code violations from locations targeted in the compliance checks.
The Harris County Attorney’s Office (CAO) will be filing nuisance
abatement violations against six of the
locations.
“Our crime-fighting deputies will
continue to bust SOBs for prostitution,
illegal drugs, illegal gun possession,
unlicensed serving of alcohol and
other crimes, just we like we have
done before,” Sheriff Adrian Garcia
has said. “But the county regulations
will, among other things, allow us to
work with the County Attorney’s Of(Continued on page 4)
Veterans Affairs Committee Chair
Jose Menendez
raised one concern: that people
may fake their
backgrounds.
"We’ve
already
had people that
claim to be decorated in certain
ways,
who've
created a ruse,"
he said.
Flynn said there
would be proper
vetting.
Kevin
Lacz
served two tours
of duty in Iraq
with Chris Kyle.
He came home
and could only
get two P.E. credits in college from
his service. He is
now in physician
assistant school. He, too, is a highly-
decorated Navy SEAL.
"Most people don’t realize the obstacles veterans face today," Lacz
said.
Taya Kyle wants to see this
through.
"The fact that it meant something to
him makes me feel like I have a very
tangible way to honor my husband,"
she said, "and I’m so blessed to have
that.”
The committee asked for another
week to tweak the language, but does
expect to pass the bill to the entire
floor.
From the hearing, Taya Kyle and
others went to the house floor for a
resolution honoring her husband's life.
“It's overwhelming," she said.
"There is no question about the love
and support from Texas. I already
thought it was the great 'nation of
Texas,' so to speak -- this just brings it
home. It’s wonderful.”
There will be a resolution honoring
the Llittlefield family at the state capitol
in the coming weeks.
DEPARTMENT POLICY REVISIONS
Department Policy # 313 - Sexual Misconduct Policy has been issued for
your review. It is mandatory that all employees review and become familiar
with the new policy in order that departmental policy compliance is maintained.
Department Policy # 612 - Firearms Laboratory ARS Access has been
issued for your review. It is mandatory that all employees review and become
familiar with the new policy in order that departmental policy compliance is
maintained.
Policy #111, Sec II, G4
It is each employee’s responsibility to review the Sheriff’s Intranet
(Department Manual link) on the first day of his/her regular work week and
immediately upon return to duty from any absence. All employees shall read,
adhere to, and are held accountable for all directives, policies, procedures,
rules, and instructional material, as published on the Intranet.
President’s
Corner
Do you know what your organization officers are
doing? Would you like to know with whom they are
meeting and the results of those meetings as they
happen? Would you like to be on a mailing list to
receive regular updates from the organization? If
so send Bob an email and he will put you on the list
to receive regular updates.
His email address is r.goerlitz@earthlink.net
by Robert Goerlitz
President, HCDO
The Budget Cycle
With each new fiscal year comes
a new budget within the county.
There are new challenges in the new
budget which require a separation
between law enforcement and detentions. The reason for this came
from the recent push for privatization
and the costs involved. This change
will allow for a better accounting of
the funds being spent.
What does this mean? For the
past few years the various bureaus
have each been given a budget. In
some instances this has pitted one
bureau against another. With each
Major being in charge of an area
with its own budget, the last thing
any of them want to do is be over
budget. Decisions are made more on
the basis of budget than safety of
personnel. This is how it affects you
and me.
The outlying jails were closed in
an effort to cut the budget within the
bureau it is under. This decision had
a ripple effect not only to the patrol
bureau but also to other agencies
across the county who utilized those
outlying jails. In reality, this decision
costs another bureau more money
and lost man hours, but the most
important thing was that this became
an immediate officer safety issue.
When patrolmen are at the stations putting their prisoners through
processing, they are still listening to
the radio. It is not uncommon for
those booking someone at the outlying jail to run out the door to respond
to a Deputy in trouble on the radio.
When that same Deputy is downtown at CWC, there is no leaving to
go to the aid of someone requesting
it or screaming for it. This is an example of how the decision of one
bureau affects the others.
The manpower, time and money
saved may cost the safety and possibly lives of not only our personnel
but also those of the citizens we are
sworn to protect. I am all about saving the taxpayers’ money because I
am a taxpayer. In that same sense,
as a taxpayer, I would like to see our
law enforcement in Harris County
and my neighbors have the best
chance of survival as possible.
The Privatization
Threat
Many months ago there was a
collaboration started by us with various groups across the state and
country to battle against the Harris
County Jail becoming privatized.
Through the efforts we played an
important role in this battle to be
sure all of the actual facts were
known about the private companies
and their business practices, past
and current. We made it very clear to
some of these groups that we would
work together with them in this
cause, but we were not on board
with them in some of their other
goals. With this understanding made
clear up front, they were all agreeable with this, and we were successful.
Emergency
Declaration?
Over a year ago we filed a mandamus in court for the Sheriff to either declare a state of emergency or
to stop the practice of mandatory
overtime. The mandamus was
averted by the Sheriff declaring a
state of emergency for the jails and
the jails only. Recently there were
personnel ordered to work mandatory overtime for the NBA All Star
game that was held in Houston.
Since this has occurred we have requested from the County Attorney
any declaration the Sheriff has made
that has altered his original. The
County Attorney is not aware of any
new declaration and now the inquiries shall continue to find out why
state law has been broken again.
Retirement
Legislation
Many of you will be happy to
know the recent worry about a
change to TCDRS will not be happening. There have been talks with
the individual's office about the bill
he presented, TCDRS, the Chairman
of the committee and numerous representatives in Austin and there will
be no change to TCDRS by the bill
that was filed to drop the interest
rate to 5% from 7%. These are the
things we keep track of and battle
against. We don't win every fight but
we try to do our best when it comes
to our future.
There are a couple of other bills
we are keeping close tabs on to include one trying to make some
changes to the Private Security Act.
If this bill comes up in front of a committee, we will be sure to fight
against it.
COLA
There has been talk of some sort
of COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment)
coming up for consideration during
the mid-year budget review in September. I have personally been
bringing this up each time I have
made a trip to 1001 Preston. Our
county leaders have to understand
how behind we are with our salaries
being stagnant for the past 4 1/2
years. Common expenses have not
gotten any cheaper but our pay has
remained the same. The point I keep
pushing is the inability to hire qualified personnel throughout the county
for the pay scale they are offering.
Between the items going on in
the legislature and a pay raise, these
are the two priorities we currently
have. We will continue to keep you
posted on the progress of each as
they occur.
HCDO Membership Meetings
April 2 and May 7
Page 2
www.hcdo.com
Call Us Anytime...
Want to reach this special market of
We’re Your Organization!
police professionals?
ADVERTISE
in The Harris County Star
Don’t wait….time is money
For information on ad rates or deadlines,
please call:
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
Robert Goerlitz, President
713-659-0005
Eric Batton, Vice President
281-387-9040
Dale Hubert, Secretary/Treasurer
281-382-0935
Cathy Hill at 713-659-0005 ext. 1
Or e-mail inquiries or ad copy to
sharpstrite@comcast.net
r.goerlitz@earthlink.net
ejbatton@sbcglobal.net
d77ale@consolidated.net
BOARD MEMBERS
Pos. 1 James Henry jbh4331@aol.com
Pos. 2 Curtis Brown cbrown9059@suddenlink.net
713-530-4664
713-826-1831
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
Your Harris County Star
Any member of the Harris County Deputies’
Organization is allowed and encouraged to submit
articles for publication in this newspaper. Opinions,
events, family announcements, war stories...all are
welcome and enjoyed by all Deputies. Submissions will
only be edited as necessary to protect your organization
from legal liability.
The Harris County Star is published by the Harris County Deputies’ Organization and is not
copyrighted. Other police organizations are encouraged to reprint material which originates with
The Star. We require only that you give credit to the author and this paper when reprinting. All
articles are subject to review by the editorial committee. Letters and/or guest articles appearing in
the editorial section of The Star are the sole opinion of the author, and do not necessarily reflect
the opinions or views of the Board of Directors or membership of the Harris County Deputies’
Organization.
The Star encourages Organization members and other readers of the publication to submit
letters for publication on the editorial page. The HCDO reserves the right to refuse to print any
submission not deemed in the best interest of the Organization.
Notice: All articles and photos for The Harris County Star must be submitted prior to
the 5th of each month preceding deadline. Any articles submitted after this date will appear,
space permitting, in the next issue of The Star. Thank you for your cooperation. Articles can
be submitted at the HCDO offices or by e-mail. To submit articles directly to the editor,
send to: retiredhpdcop@gmail.com.
The Harris County Star is administered by Sgt. G.L. “Buddy” Williams, Lone Star Publishing
Co. under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Harris County Deputies’ Organization.
PATROL:
Stuart Campbell
DIST.2 6A-2P
Daniel Wareham
DIST.4 10P-6A
Chris Aguirre
DIST.5 10P-6A
Frank Garcia
DIST. 1
Bryan Cross
DIST. 1 10P-6A
Sgt. Tim Fite
DIST. 1 2P-10P
CONSTABLES:
James Grohman
PCT. 4 7A-3P
Sgt. Matt Walker
PCT. 4 10P-6A
DETECTIVE BUREAU:
Curtis Brown
HOMI. 1P-9P
David Cuevas
I.P.C.:
Open positions all shifts
COURTS:
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION:
Brian Merritt
10P-6A
1301 BAKER:
Arthur Ramirez
2P-10P
Carlos Arguelles
701
2P-10P
701 JAIL:
Open positions all shifts
CHAPLAIN:
Shannon Bowdoin
COMMUNICATIONS:
Traci Mullins
6A-2P
Rosalyn Wiley
Kristin Chambers
Elizabeth Barber
2P-10P
COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU:
713-744-8178
281-814-3246
832-922-5605
713-299-8026
281-830-9162
281-705-5380
832-868-1714
281-734-4904
713-826-1831
832-250-1716
715-566-5074
832-483-9197
713-545-4341
936-776-6537
713-816-8508
832-324-4335
281-914-6017
281-796-8926
PARKS:
Your Harris County Star Staff
James Henry
713-530-4664
YOUR OFFICE STAFF
Cathy Hill
Publisher ..................Buddy Williams
Composition Editor…..Shaun Harpstrite
Staff Writer................Stephen Skinner
Distribution………………Betsy Bauerschlag
Organization Office:
1314 Texas Ave, Suite 2000, Houston, TX 77002
Main Office: 713-659-0005
Legal Dept.: 713-659-0017
Fax No.: 713-750-0070
www.hcdo.com
HCDO NEWSPAPER COMMITTEE
Robert Barber
6A-2P
www.hcdo.com
The Harris County Deputies’ Organization
And We Are YOUR Board
Page 3
Chad Holley jailed for outstanding
warrant during sentencing for
burglary
By Nakia Cooper, KHOU.com
HOUSTON—Chad Holley, who
gained national attention in a highlypublicized case of police brutality in
2010, was arrested for an outstanding
warrant on the day he was to be sentenced in a burglary case.
Holley and three friends, Donald
Wesley Toran, Paulus Ramone Jackson and Alexander O’Neal Babbs,
were arrested last year in June after
they broke into a home one afternoon
in northwest Harris County. Neighbors
called police after seeing the four loading up a homeowner’s goods. When
officers chased the suspects down, the
community was stunned to find out
Holley was involved.
The teen pleaded guilty for that
offense on January 9, 2013, and his
sentencing date was set for March 14.
But when he arrived at the Harris
County courthouse to hear his judgment, he was taken into custody for
something totally different.
What flew under many people’s
radars is the fact that Holley got in
trouble with the law just a few months
before committing the burglary act.
He was caught trespassing at Cypress Falls High School on January
18, 2012, according to Harris County
records. He was convicted on March 2
of trespassing on school property and
ordered to pay fines.
But more than a year later, Holley
still had an outstanding balance of
$187 on the trespassing charge and a
Precinct 5 judge issued the warrant for
his arrest. Before he could hear his
punishment for the June 2012 burglary
offense, he was hauled off to jail.
Holley is a teen who is no stranger
to the law, the media or the community
as a whole.
He has continuously found himself
in the spotlight since catching national
headlines after being beaten by Houston police on March 24, 2010. On that
day, a 16-year-old Holley was caught
burglarizing a business and ran from
police.
Surveillance video showed officers
chasing him down, throwing him to the
ground and stomping on him. That
publicized beating sparked outrage
across the nation, and community activist Quanell X led the charge in demanding justice.
Four officers were later fired and
charged with official oppression and
Holley was given probation for that
burglary.
After that, Holley said he was going
to get his life together, but one time
after the next, he found himself in troublesome situations.
In addition to the trespassing and
burglary convictions, video surfaced of
the teen flashing what appeared to be
gang signs.
After news of Holley's last burglary
surfaced, his mother said he had been
off his medication. She said he was
prescribed three psychotropic medications, including the anti-depressant
Mirtazapine.
Holley could once again be given
probation for his latest crime, or could
possibly be sentenced to serve between two and 20 years in jail.
fice, the District Attorney’s Office and
the constables to prevent some of
these unwanted businesses from
opening in the first place.”
SOBs will have to obtain licenses
to operate legally, and a fire marshal’s
inspection is one of the requirements
of licensure. Information on the crimi-
Page 4
WE SALUTE
TEXAS
PEACE
OFFICERS
Capt. Alan Helfman
River Oaks
Chrysler Jeep Dodge
713-524-3801
The Helfman
Family Of Fine
Automobiles
WE SALUTE
TEXAS
PEACE
OFFICERS
Steven Wolf, Helfman Dodge Chrysler Jeep
713-533-6100
The Helfman
Family Of Fine
Automobiles
WE SALUTE
TEXAS PEACE
OFFICERS
Jeff Smith
Helfman Ford
Red light
(Continued from page 1)
The Helfman
Family
Of Fine
Automobiles
nal backgrounds of any operators will
also be required. The regulations provide for notice to, and input from, residents before any SOB can open. The
new regulations can be viewed online
at http://www.harriscountytx.gov/
coatty/countyregulations.aspx.
281-240-3673
Coming
Soon
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
Internal review rejects idea
of privatizing county jail
Family Matters
Births * Deaths * Illness
Retirements * Promotions
Deaths
Lira
Jose O. Lira, father of Deputy Mike
Lira, Admininstative Service ~ Classification ~ Night Watch, passed away on
Sunday, February 17, 2013. Please
keep the Lira family in your thoughts
and prayers during this very difficult
time.
DeAlejandro
Guadalupe DeAlejandro, grandfather
of Detention Officers Jessica Perez
(701), John DeAlejandro (701), Jorge
Rodriguez (701), and Deputy Robert
DeAlejandro (Patrol), passed away on
Wednesday, February 20, 2013.
Please keep the family in your
thoughts and prayers during this very
difficult time.
Phillips
Mr. Frank Phillips, retired HCSO Sergeant, Detention Bureau, passed away
Sunday, February 24, 2013. Mr. Phillips is the brother or retired HCSO Sergeant Ronnie Phillips, Sr., Special Victims Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau, and active Sergeant Ronnie Phillips, Jr., Task Force Division, Homeland Security & Emergency Management Bureau. Our deepest condolences go out to the Phillips family during this difficult time. Please keep
them in your thoughts and prayers.
Powell
Ms. Delores Powell, mother of Deputy
Shannon Powell (Transportation/
Hospital), passed away on Sunday,
February 24, 2013. Please keep Deputy Powell and his family in your
thoughts and prayers during this most
difficult time.
Wardsworth
Mr. Sherman Wardsworth, brother of
Deputy Joe Wardsworth (1200 Baker –
Medical Security – Evening Watch),
passed away Monday, February 25,
2013. Our sympathy and deepest condolences go out to Joe and the entire
Wardsworth family. Please keep them
in your thoughts and prayers.
By Mike Morris,
Houston Chronicle
Spaugh
Kenneth Dean Spaugh, Sr, father of
Kenneth Spaugh, Communications
Division, passed away. Our thoughts
and prayers are with the Spaugh family during this difficult time.
Births
Granados
DO Nancy Granados is pleased to
announce the birth of her baby girl!
Little Miss Isabella Granados was born
at 1:04 p.m., on Thursday, February
22, 2013. She weighed in at 8 lbs., 6
oz. and was 20 ½ inches long. Nancy
and Isabella are doing fine. Congratulations to Nancy and her family on this
most joyful occasion!
Prayers Needed
Cook
Mr. Merle Cook, father of Ann (West)
Ragsdale, Legal Services, has been
placed in hospice care after receiving
dire news of cancer in both lungs. Mr.
Cook is in good spirits and is resting at
home with his family. Please keep
Merle, Ann and her family in your
thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with
you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God; I will strengthen you, I will help
you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Special Occasions
Thank You!
We've had a lot of veterans come back
in the last sixty years. Korea, Vietnam,
the Gulf and Middle East wars have
not been wars where good and evil
were well defined. The men and
women who fought them, however,
served their country and did what they
were asked to do, often with great personal sacrifice. To these--and to those
comrades that they left behind on the
field of battle--we owe our respect and
gratitude.Thank you Warrior Citizens
for your service and sacrifice.
Privatizing the Harris County jail
would be risky and may not result in
savings, according to an internal
county memo recommending that
Commissioners Court keep the state’s
largest lockup in Sheriff Adrian Garcia‘s hands.
The confidential Feb. 11 memo,
obtained by the Houston Chronicle,
comes after more than a year of study
by staff from the county budget office,
purchasing office and County Attorney’s Office. Commissioner Steve
Radack had suggested the county
consider privatizing the jail in 2010,
and the court voted to accept proposals in April 2011, when the county had
begun laying off scores of staff in a
lean budget year.
Four private prison firms submitted
bids in fall 2011, but only the proposal
from Corrections Corporation of America, the nation’s largest private prison
operator, was deemed viable.
“CCA provided a very compelling
p r o p o s a l ,” t h e m em o s t a t es .
“However, there is uncertainty about
what the county’s actual realized savings would be, and there is also a
level of risk and uncertainty that goes
along with outsourcing such a vital
function to a third party. The evaluation committee concluded that the potential benefit is not sufficient reason
to make a change at this time.”
Inmates decreased
A key factor in recommending
against privatization, the memo stated,
was the decrease in the sheriff’s
budget in recent years, from $424.2
million in fiscal 2010 to what is projected to be less than this year’s
$392.6 million budget. The savings
are, in part, tied to a steep drop in the
jail population, which has fallen by
roughly a third since 2008.
“We have improved operations
while saving money, we’ve passed jail
inspections, we haven’t laid off any
employees and we’ve reduced incustody deaths,” Garcia said. “I think
we’ve demonstrated that as a sheriff’s
office we’re running this place like a
business as much as we’re running it
like a county jail.”
Radack said the exercise of considering privatization was time well
spent, even if it does not make sense
to privatize today.
“The sheriff’s department learned a
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
lot from the exercise, they learned
how to save money, they learned how
to be more efficient,” Radack said. “I
compliment the sheriff for paying attention and trying to save money. I
look at it as a success.”
The privatization discussions
helped the sheriff better allocate manpower in the jail to reduce overtime
costs, said County Budget Officer Bill
Jackson, and also allowed the sheriff’s
budget to be separated into three
parts in the budget the court will consider – $166 million for law enforcement, $178 million for the jail and $47
million for jail medical – which will help
to better identify and control costs in
each category.
Saving money
Garcia disputed that the privatization discussions had spurred cost savings, saying his goals “from Day One”
were to improve operations, spend
wisely and keep the public safe.
Jackson’s staff estimated the
county’s cost per man-day in the jail
was $51.50 during the 2012 fiscal
year, and perhaps a dollar cheaper
than that today. CCA offered a fixed
five-year price of $47.52, and $15 million up front to offset the cost of firing
employees and integrating systems.
However, the memo states, the
projected $8 million to $11 million savings may not materialize. Reasons
include: some jail costs are administrative functions that would continue,
jailers who retire to avoid a layoff
would retain county health benefits,
and civil service rules would dump
senior jailers into jobs for which they
are not experienced.
The memo also raised concerns
about oversight, saying privatization
would create “uncertain effects” on
inmate treatment, facility security and
the ability to implement re-entry programs in the jail.
Commissioner El Franco Lee echoed that.
“I have always leaned heavier toward the custodian of the jail being the
sheriff, but I didn’t want my personal
feelings to get in the way of trying to
do something better than what we’ve
done in the past,” Lee said. “It was
worth the examination and evaluating
it on its merits and letting it stand or
fall on its own merits.”
Keeping it in-house
County Judge Ed Emmett said the
(Continued on page 11)
Page 5
The Judge’s
Report
By Judge Ed Emmett
2013 State of the
County Address
Delivered
February 25, 2013
This is the sixth time I have delivered a State of the County Address to
the Greater Houston Partnership and
the League of Women Voters. The
previous five have featured two recurring themes. First, Harris County government overall has been and is in
good condition. Second, and more
importantly, the real state of the county
is best measured by looking at the
daily lives of the residents of Harris
County.
This year, those two themes still
prevail, but government at any level
should be about the future as well as
the present.
For the daily lives of Harris County
residents to continue to improve, the
county government must remain vital.
Currently, Harris County government
is remarkably strong. Harris County
has a AAA bond rating, significant reserves in the bank and low taxes. In
fact, Commissioners Court passed the
largest tax cut in county history in
2007. Perhaps the best news about
the county’s financial condition is
shown in the Texas Comptroller’s
awarding Harris County its Leadership
Circle Gold Member Award for Financial Transparency for three years in a
row.
So Harris County has a solid foundation. However, county government
in Texas, by its very nature, faces
challenges. As an arm of the state,
Harris County can do only those things
enumerated in the Texas Constitution,
which was written in 1876 and has
nearly 500 amendments, or things
specifically authorized by the Texas
Legislature. And county government is
managed by numerous elected officials who answer directly to the voters.
Despite the impediments, Harris
County government – working with the
Legislature and others – has shown
itself to be innovative in meeting the
needs of its residents. There are few
examples in the world of a governmental body that has managed dramatic
change and rapid growth as well as
Harris County. Previous and current
Page 6
members of Commissioners Court
made smart decisions along the way.
In transportation, the creation and
successful implementation of the Harris County Toll Road Authority has put
us miles ahead of other urban areas.
Nobody likes paying tolls, but imagine
the congestion if we had no Beltway 8,
Hardy Toll Road, Westpark Tollway or
Katy managed lanes.
Living on the Texas Gulf Coast presents some clear dangers. The Harris
County Flood Control District has addressed, and is addressing, the constant threat of flooding while simultaneously creating green space and
parks in all parts of the county. Every
year, we face the threat of hurricanes,
but the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, working out of the TranStar
facility, is a model for the nation and
was recognized for statewide excellence last week by the Emergency
Management Association of Texas.
In a county that has rapidly grown
to have more residents than 24 states,
maintaining quality of life can get lost
in the shuffle. The county commissioners, while making sure that the roads
and infrastructure are in place to accommodate growth, have gone to
great lengths to provide for many other
amenities that improve the lives of
Harris County residents.
Of course, there are many other
aspects of Harris County that residents
take for granted until something goes
awry. The criminal justice system
blends the responsibilities of the sheriff, district attorney, judges and lots of
others. Vexing issues, such as jail
overcrowding, have been dealt with in
recent years. The very nature of interactions in the criminal justice system
will always create the potential for
problems. By and large, those problems are minimal. One key part of the
criminal justice system is the basic
right to trial by a jury of our peers. In a
county of more than 4 million people,
that gives rise to the need for a large
bureaucracy that the District Clerk’s
office is managing quite well.
Beyond the basic functions of
county government, Harris County
finds itself involved in other activities,
either directly or indirectly.
The Harris County Hospital District,
now known as Harris Health System,
is charged with providing indigent
health care. Since its creation in 1966,
the district has replaced a woefully
inadequate charity hospital with a
health care system featuring some of
the best medical care in the world,
provided by Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas
Health Science Center.
In an increasingly urban area, the
Harris County Housing Authority has
refocused its mission, cleansed itself
of inappropriate activities and is providing subsidized housing to many in
need.
Who would have predicted 50
years ago that Harris County would be
intimately involved in the sports and
entertainment world? Yet, through the
Harris County Sports and Convention
Corporation, the county is responsible
for the Reliant Park complex. As fans
pour into Reliant Stadium or Reliant
Center for world-class events, many of
them have no idea that a strong, stable county government is responsible.
It all started with the Astrodome –
the Harris County Domed Stadium. Of
course, the Astrodome has shifted
from a “Wonder of the World” to a
“Wonder What We Should Do With It?”
All I can say is that many options have
been explored, and the Sports and
Convention Corporation is working
with many groups to develop a plan
that will be presented to Commissioners Court. We are well aware of the
mounting pressure to do something
with the Dome. I can also say unequivocally that whatever plan is put
forward will not receive unanimous
public support. The residents of Harris
County have very strong, diverse feelings about the Dome.
One thing the hospital district, the
housing authority and the Sports and
Convention Corporation have in common is leadership provided by appointed boards made up of county
residents who put in many hours and
give of themselves for no pay. The
same type of leadership exists on numerous other boards and commissions
responsible for making Harris County
a better place. Those volunteers deserve thanks and praise from all of us.
In my role as county judge, I regularly have the honor of speaking for
Harris County. I am always mindful
that I represent thousands of dedicated county employees who work
diligently every day. They translate the
finances of the county into tangible
results. They make the state of the
county stronger.
Giving a State of the County
speech for a county doing as well as
Harris County is certainly easier than
explaining away massive problems.
www.hcdo.com
However, I started by also mentioning
that the real state of the county is best
measured by its impact on the daily
lives of its residents. If that measure is
to remain positive, we must address
some looming concerns. When I say
“we,” I mean the county and the
Greater Houston Partnership.
Tomorrow, we on Commissioners
Court will likely adopt a budget for the
fiscal year that begins March 1. That
budget will total $1,527,056,000. It is a
lean budget with clear goals. There
are no gimmicks or hidden crises in
the county budget.
The financial team, led by County
Budget Officer Bill Jackson, working
with elected officials and the departments, developed this budget using a
version of zero-based budgeting to
assure that tax dollars are going to the
highest priorities. The result is a solid
financial base.
However, I have concerns that factors outside of Harris County could
cause problems in future years. A major concern is that there are some in
advocacy organizations and in the
state legislature who are suggesting
arbitrarily limiting the annual growth of
government budgets at all levels, including counties. That is really a bad
idea for Harris County. Of the more
than 4 million residents in the county,
1.6 million of them live in unincorporated Harris County. That is more people than live in either Dallas or San
Antonio. In fact, if unincorporated Harris County were a city, it would be the
fifth-largest in the United States.
Even more telling is the county’s
growth pattern. Since 2000, more than
75 percent of the county’s total population growth has occurred in the unincorporated areas. A continuation of
that trend will cause unincorporated
Harris County to surpass the City of
Houston in population by the next census, unless the city resumes aggressive annexation.
If Harris County is to continue to
grow and prosper, our transportation
infrastructure must not only keep pace
with population growth, it must be in
place to attract people and commerce.
Much of that transportation infrastructure should be funded by the State of
Texas. If the state fails to invest in the
future of transportation, Harris County
will suffer. But we are in better shape
than many areas. Having the Harris
County Toll Road Authority, the Gulf
Coast Rail District and METRO gives
us some means of addressing future
needs.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority, in addition to constantly maintaining and expanding existing toll
RE: First Annual Thin Blue Line, LEMC
Dear Sponsor,
It is with great pride that we, members of the Thin Blue Line LEMC, Houston Chapter, extend this exclusive invitation to you to consider becoming our Gold Sponsor of
the First Annual TBL Golf Classic to be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at Longwood Golf Club. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our Thin Blue Line Foundation.
We are a Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club whose members are active duty or
retired law enforcement officers from a variety of agencies and jurisdictions,
along with our civilian friends who support us in our profession. Together we
share the love of American made motorcycles, the wind in our faces and the
brotherhood of like-minded motorcyclists.
As a fraternal organization we strive to support one another, law enforcement
professionals and our community. Our colors clearly identify our affiliation with
law enforcement and we are bound by our oath of office and law enforcements,
“code of ethics”. Our members reflect a positive image for our profession and
our club. We are the Thin Blue Line LE/MC!
This year’s tournament promises to be a superb event. Participants will enjoy a great
day of golf while networking with other players and sponsors. Please take a moment and
seriously consider becoming one of our major sponsors. For more information, please
call Rick Barajas at 713-391-9566 or Eloy Saenz, our golf coordinator at 832-671-2833
Please review the list of amenities at this sponsorship level.
Gold Sponsor * $2000
Mention on all media coverage
Your company banner placement option at registration
One Tee Sponsorship (sign with your logo on the tee box
Table set up to promote your company on a Par 3 contest in your honor)
Insert company promotional items in golfer gift bag
One Team (4 golfers, carts, drinks, lunch & awards dinner VIP tickets)
We greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you
soon!
Sincerely,
Rick Barajas, President
Rick Barajas
Judge’s Report
roads, is providing needed resources
for road improvements to improve mobility throughout Harris County. And
speaking of mobility, the voters’ approval of the continuation of METRO’s
General Mobility Fund was validation
of the cooperative effort put forth by
METRO, Harris County, the City of
Houston and the other municipalities
within the METRO service area.
Unless restricted, Harris County will
cooperate with the Texas Department
of Transportation and others to improve the U.S. 290 corridor with additional free lanes and a toll way, complete the Grand Parkway, develop a
288 toll way and a 249 toll way. And
the Gulf Coast Rail District stands
ready to implement commuter rail as
soon as it is feasible. All of these transportation improvements will allow the
regional economy to continue boom-
ing.
Other issues, such as the availability of water, the quality of the education
system and environmental regulations
could each change the dynamics of
Harris and surrounding counties. It is
imperative that we work at all levels to
secure a statewide water plan, make
our public schools and universities first
rate, and protect our environment.
While the Legislature wrestles with
water and education, as the chairman
of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, I have made it a personal project to
promote natural gas as the fuel of
www.hcdo.com
choice for vehicles of all types in our
region. Broader use of natural gas as a
fuel will benefit both the environment
and the local economy.
While any of those three issues
could stall the growth and prosperity of
the county and the entire region, there
are other issues that need attention
because they have the potential to
specifically hamper the budgets of the
county and the hospital district.
The first of these is immigration
reform. We have a lot of people residing here who came here illegally. That
Page 7
News From Another Beat
Agreement restricts
police role in Denver
schools
It is in response to concerns
that schools were relying
too heavily on officers to
handle minor disciplinary
problems
By Alexandra Tilsley, Associated Press
DENVER — Amid a chorus of recent announcements that schools
nationwide are adding police officers
or enhancing security measures, a
new agreement between schools and
police in Denver stands out.
Signed in February, the contract
limits the role of police officers in
schools, in response to concerns that
schools were relying too heavily on
officers to handle minor disciplinary
problems.
School safety has been a hot topic
in Colorado since the 1999 shooting
at Columbine High School, which left
12 students, a teacher and two gunmen dead. The state adopted strict
zero-tolerance policies in the wake of
that shooting, referring students to
law enforcement automatically for
offenses such as trying to break up a
fight or carrying a fake gun onto campus.
Those policies were relaxed last
year by state lawmakers, who worried
that too many students were being
sent to the criminal justice system and
facing unnecessary interruptions to
their education.
Similar concerns prompted the
new agreement in Denver. One Denver student, Tori Ortiz, said on a conference call that she had seen students ticketed or escorted out of class
by police officers for indiscretions as
small as talking in class or talking
back to a teacher. The culture in the
schools, she said, was one of criminalizing young people.
"There were using police to deal
with discipline matters rather than
what they're really in the school to
deal with, which is safety matters,"
said Jason Sinocruz, a staff attorney
for the Advancement Project, a Washington, D.C.-based civil rights organization that helped with the Denver
Page 8
agreement.
Ortiz is a member of Padres y
Jovenes Unidos, a grassroots group
of parents and students that led the
charge for the new guidelines.
"There were too many cases of
students being sent to a court for stuff
that should have been handled in
schools," said Ricardo Martinez, codirector of the group.
The new agreement makes a distinction between disciplinary issues
and crimes, and requires officers to
treat these cases differently.
The deal also provides guidelines
for reporting problems to principals
and parents, advises officers on how
to deal with students who have disabilities, mandates regular community
meetings and sets annual training
requirements for officers working in
schools.
The contract does not reduce the
number of officers in schools _ currently 15 distributed among 17 campuses — but explicitly outlines their
role and emphasizes the use of
"restorative approaches," rather than
ticketing or court referrals, for dealing
with minor disciplinary problems.
There was no formal opposition to
the agreement.
Although other school districts
have established similar — though
usually less formal _ guidelines, Denver may be unique in its timing.
School safety announcements since
the December shootings at Sandy
Hook Elementary School in Connecticut typically have been about schools
adding officers or adopting zerotolerance policies. One school district
south of Denver, for example, recently
invited police officers on patrol to
write their arrest reports from school
parking lots.
But supporters of the agreement
believe restricting police authority will
make schools safer than simply adding more officers.
"When you are not locking up students for minor offenses, you will find
students will then develop a positive
outlook on your police on campus,"
said Steve Teske, a juvenile court
judge in Clayton County, Ga., who led
an effort there that established a similar policy in 2004. "When that happens, kids begin to open up and
share information that police need to
hear that can prevent the guns and
drugs and other things coming onto
campus."
The impact of
Christopher Dorner on
law enforcement
When Christopher Dorner
died in a mountain cabin,
some said it was the end of
a series of horrific and
tragic set of events — instead, it was the beginning
of many enduring effects
By Karen L. Bune, PoliceOne.com
Christopher Dorner — the name is
now known far and wide. Disgruntled
over his termination from the Los Angeles Police Department several
years ago, he went on a rampage of
revenge resulting in the senseless
loss of lives.
The final outcome of one of the
largest manhunts in the United States
resulted in Dorner being holed up in
an incendiary cabin where he died.
But what appeared to be the end
of a series of horrific and tragic set of
events has instead marked the beginning of the enduring impact of Christopher Dorner.
LAPD’s Worst Enemy
Dorner had been well trained by
the police department where he was
formerly employed, but he was no
longer in favor of LAPD in any way,
shape, or form. He’d reported that his
training officer had allegedly kicked a
man in the face and chest while being
handcuffed. An investigation later determined his allegation was false.
Dorner was fired.
Following his termination from the
department and in subsequent years,
he apparently had repressed anger
over what he perceived to be an unjust act.
“You have misjudged a sleeping
giant,” he said in his online manifesto.
Dorner vowed revenge in an explicit manifesto. He was determined to
kill cops and their family members. He
possessed instrumental law enforcement and military training, specific
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
knowledge, and professional expertise that enabled him to attempt to do
just that.
He became LAPD’s worst enemy,
and LAPD was the immediate target
of Dorner’s universe. He was intent
on his purpose and focused on his
mission. Dorner became an unimaginable nightmare not only for those in
law enforcement but for innocent civilians. His actions captivated worldwide
attention.
In the aftermath of the events that
unfolded, there is profound loss of
lives, everlasting grief, unrelenting
emotional pain, enduring sadness and
anger. At the same time, there is also
contemplation, examination, investigation as well as ongoing cooperation
and collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
There is also protest as well, with
some positioning themselves outside
LAPD headquarters to voice their criticism of police tactics and strategies.
There are also those who have rallied
to support the cause of Christopher
Dorner on Facebook and other social
media outlets.
Chief Charlie Beck has reiterated
the need for transparency within the
Los Angeles Police Department in
what he maintains is an effort to reaffirm the bridges that have been built
and the bonds that have been made.
His vow to reopen the investigation of Dorner’s termination is not to
appease the community but for what
he maintains is to better understand
the role and meaning of transparency.
“We value fairness to everybody in
every way,” Beck said.
Many Lasting Effects
Dorner’s actions impacted many
lives in ways that will remain unforgettable — the grieving friends, colleagues, and family members of those
who were the victims of his violence
and suffered loss of life.
The permanent scars of the injured will always serve as reminders
of the horrific realization that a former
cop turned on those who were, at one
time, joined with him in the bond of
the police family. There is also the
shared pain and trauma of communities, both near and far, that empathetically relate to those whose lives
News from another beat
were forever impacted.
Cops put their lives on the line
daily, and they are aware of the sacrifice they make from the moment they
enter the profession.
However, that fact does not deflect
from the reality that they, too, are human and experience the tragedy, the
horror, the outrage, and the impact of
loss of their friends, family, and colleagues in ways that sear their emotions and tug at their heartstrings no
matter how stoic their professional
demeanor or how ingrained is the professional training they receive.
The impact of Christopher
Dorner’s actions points to the ongoing
need for law enforcement agencies to
have in place effective employment
termination policies and protocols that
must be defined with clarity and embraced with appropriate sensitivity.
They must be continually reviewed
and revised.
It is imperative that the right people are in place within the organization to personally and effectively interact with the individuals being terminated to ease the sudden — and possibly unexpected — disruption to their
lives which can have reverberating
financial and emotional repercussions.
Communication is a critical component involved in this process and
must be fully engaged at all levels
with forthrightness, consideration, and
confidentiality.
The impact of the Dorner episode
also points to the critical need for cooperative and collaborative relationship building, as demonstrated by the
various law enforcement entities in
the California region that worked together so effectively.
Though this endeavor has nationally increased in a post-9/11 era, the
magnitude and scope of what could
necessitate the utilization of diverse
law enforcement agencies working
conjointly for an event of any nature
should never be underestimated or
negated.
Ongoing dialogue, forecasting,
and interagency active-shooter strategic planning and practice should be
done routinely with all law enforcement agencies everywhere regardless
of agency or jurisdiction size.
Importantly — yet tragically — the
impact of the Dorner episode illustrates that law enforcement officers
must be capable of confronting whatever comes their way at any point in
time. Though they have always inherently known that, it was clearly and
realistically brought home to them by
Christopher Dorner.
One-cop town
considers mandatory
gun ownership
Nelson, home to 1,300 people, employs one police officer, who is only on duty at
night for 8 hours
By David Beasley, Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA — Residents of a small
Georgia town may soon be asked to
keep guns in their homes, a proposal
that comes as federal lawmakers argue for new limits on firearm ownership.
A city leader in Nelson, 50 miles
north of Atlanta, said he proposed an
ordinance calling on every head of
household to have a gun as a way to
keep crime down.
Nelson, home to 1,300 people,
employs one police officer, who is
only on duty at night, city councilman
Duane Cronic told Reuters. When the
officer is off duty during the day, residents must call local sheriff's officials
if they need assistance, which he said
can result in longer response times.
Cronic said his proposal is similar
to an ordinance enacted by the
nearby town of Kennesaw in 1982.
There would be no penalty for not
having a weapon, but the law would
send a message to would-be criminals, he said.
"It would be a like putting a big
security sign in your front yard," he
said.
Cronic's proposal is being considered amid heated debate at the federal and state levels over U.S. gun
control laws in the wake of a December shooting rampage that left 26
people dead at a Connecticut elementary school.
The fatal attack has prompted
some states to tighten gun laws, while
other states are seeking to keep federal gun measures from being applied
within their borders.
The Nelson city council will vote
on the gun ownership ordinance on
April 1, Cronic said.
Crime in Nelson mostly consists of
petty theft, Cronic said, and he hopes
the gun ordinance will keep it that
way.
"This is just a way to keep our
crime rate low," he said.
911 recording that changed
police response policy revealed
Part of the recording
was leaked, in which
the victim can be
heard pleading with
her attacker
DALLAS — A television station
has broadcast a leaked copy of a terrified woman's call to 911 last summer just before she was killed in a
case that has prompted widespread
changes in the way police respond to
reported domestic disturbances.
The lack of urgency by police to
32-year-old Deanna Cook's Aug. 17
call caused a public outcry and led to
the punishment of dispatchers and
the review of police procedures.
Dallas police have declined to release the recording but a copy was
leaked to Dallas station WFAA which
broadcast a portion of it.
Cook is heard in the background
pleading with her attacker not to harm
her. She never spoke with the dispatcher after she called 911 on her
cellphone because she was too busy
frantically begging for her life.
The pressing nature of the call
was not relayed to police by the dispatcher. Officers went to Cook's
home nearly an hour later, found
nothing amiss and left. It wasn't until
two days later that her body was dis-
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
covered in an overflowing bathtub
after her family had called 911 expressing concern for her safety.
Cook's former husband, Delvecchio Patrick, was later arrested and
charged with killing her. He has not
entered a plea in the case and remains in custody on a $500,000
bond. His attorney, Roger Lenox,
would only comment Thursday that
Patrick is "innocent until proven
guilty."
Cook had called 911 several times
in the months before her death to
express concern about Patrick and
what she described as his threatening, violent behavior.
Cook's death led to a flurry of
changes by Dallas leaders who acknowledge operators are sometimes
forced to work long hours and handle
an overwhelming volume of calls.
Officials hired more operators,
changed how calls are logged and
assured residents that their 911 calls
won't go ignored.
The operator who handled Cook's
call was suspended for not clearly
stating to officers the urgent situation.
She later resigned. An operator who
spoke to Cook's mother two days
later was fired for telling her she
could not immediately report her
daughter missing.
Associated Press
Page 9
Two New Members
Welcomed to Advisory
Council
Jack Johnson
Jack joins the Advisory Board in
2013 and brings an extensive background in law enforcement, security,
risk management and intelligence
related matters. After serving in the
United States Army from 1975 to
1979 as a Criminal Investigator, Jack
joined the Fairfax County, VA Police
Department as a Police Officer and
Detective. In 1983, he was appointed as a Special Agent with the
Secret Service where he served in
several capacities for 20 years. Jack
was appointed as the first Chief Security Officer (CSO) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
where he established the Office of
CSO and directed all security related
activities for the 22 agencies and
over 200,000 employees that now
comprise DHS.
Currently, Jack is a Partner with
the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers,
LLP in the Washington Federal Practice and serves as the US leader of
the PwC Global Security Network.
He is originally from Pennsylvania, is
married with two sons, and currently
resides in Virginia.
Matt Doherty
Matt is widely recognized across
the United States as among the
most experienced senior experts in
assessing an individual's potential
for danger and preventing targeted
violence against our nation's leaders and national critical infrastructure
as well as major events and the corporate workplace. As Hillard
Heintze's Managing Director of the
firm's Federal Practice, Doherty enhances the delivery of the full spectrum of the firm's services in strategic security and investigations to clients in the Washington D.C. area.
Additional highlights of Doherty's
career in the Secret Service include
providing daily briefs for U.S. Presidential and Vice Presidential Protec-
Page 10
tive Divisions on threat investigations, and coordinating some of our
nation's most critical protective intelligence investigations, including supervising all visits by the President,
Vice President and heads of states
in coordinating all threat cases involving Members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices and Secret
Service protectees.
Featured in numerous magazines, newspapers and television
news media for major articles on insider threats, assassinations and
school shootings, Doherty also
serves on the U.S. Marshal Service
Judicial Threats Center for preventing violence against judges. He is a
law enforcement advisor and trustee
award winner with the Homeland
Security Studies and Analysis Institute, a congressionally chartered
think tank supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Security Alliances
Member, National Law
Enforcement Officers
Memorial Board of Directors
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Mr. Ed Hutchison
Director
Triad & Traffic Safety
Committee Staff Liaison,
Drug Enforcement,
Traffic Safety
National Sheriffs' Association
Mr. Josh Dorsey
Vice President
GLOCK, Inc.
Mr. Craig Floyd
Chairman and CEO
NLEOMF
Mr. Brian Tripp
Director of Sales, Eastern Area
5.11 Tactical
2013 C.O.P.S.
Advisory Council
Mr. Mike Rolince
Senior Associate
Booz Allen Hamilton
Mr. Steve Tidwell
Executive Director
FBINAA
National Executive Office
Quantico
Mr. Matthew Doherty
Sr. Vice President & Managing
Director
Hillard Heintze
Ms. Juli Yarosh
General Manager
United States Secret
Service Store
Mr. Jack Johnson
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC
Fly The Blue
Mr. Harry Herington
Chairman & CEO
NIC, Inc.
Mr. Clayton French
Director Special Projects
Streamlight, Inc.
Mr. John Monroe
Program Manager
Public Safety Support Program
Verizon Wireless Corporate
Security
Mr. David Weisz
Law Enforcement/Homeland
One of the ways Concerns of Police Survivors proudly shows our
support for the men and women who
put their lives on the line for us each
and every day is by encouraging law
enforcement officers and citizens to
fly blue ribbons from their car antennae each year during National Police
Week. This year, from May 12
through May 18, we hope to see
thousands of blue ribbons flying from
personal cars and police cruisers in
a strong show of support for our
fallen officers and those still patrol-
www.hcdo.com
ling the streets.
NPW Volunteers
Needed!
Cathy Hill, Chairman of the Volunteer Committee, is looking for volunteers to work C.O.P.S.' activities
during National Police Week 2013.
Whether it is helping with registration
or showing new survivors to seminar
meeting rooms, there will be hundreds of tasks that will need to be
handled.
To volunteer, you MUST go to the
NPW 2013 link on our website:
www.nationalcops.org
For questions, please contact
Cathy Hill at (281) 300-4131
249
COLLISION
COLLISION IS OUR
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ATTENTION HCDO MEMBERS:
WE NEED YOUR STORIES!
We want to hear from you. The Harris County Star is setting
aside pages for you to let us know what is going on in your
workplace. We will be looking for someone from every
district, every jail, and each Constable Precinct, along with
Baytown and the Port, to write a few lines. You can let us
know about major arrests, benefits for fellow officers or send
out an "Atta-Boy" for one of your fellow deputies or
supervisors. Just make sure we hear from you.
Send your articles to retiredhpdcop@gmail.com or you can
contact HCDO office at 713-659-0005 ext. 1
Jail
county’s approach to running and
funding the jail works, despite occasional spats.
“Privatization removes it from the
official overview that I think is
needed,” he said. “The public wants to
have somebody who’s responsible for
that jail and not have some private
entity run it.”
CCA spokesman Steve Owen said
his company has not been notified of
any recommendation.
“We’re excited about the proposal
we put forth and we look forward and
hope we’ll get the opportunity to discuss further with the county the opportunities that are there,” he said.
Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit
Solves 2006 Murder Case
Investigators with the Harris
County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case
Unit have charged a federal convict
with the 2006 murder of his accomplice during an attempted home invasion in north Harris County.
A day after he was released to
probation from federal custody, Alvin
Wiltz, 37, was charged with the capital murder of Jermaine Clemons, 27.
On June 21, 2006, Oscar Richmond was awakened around 1 a.m.
by a knock at the door of his home in
the 3300 block of Breckenridge Drive.
At the door he met with an individual,
later identified as Clemons, who identified himself as a utility worker.
Clemons informed Mr. Richmond that
his neighborhood was being evacuated because of a gas leak. Knowing
that his neighborhood was not
equipped with natural gas, Mr. Richmond immediately became suspicious and went to get his handgun.
Once outside, Mr. Richmond was
attacked by Clemons. He tried to defend himself by firing his gun, hitting
his attacker in the chest. A second
suspect came from behind the garage and fired multiple shots, hitting
Mr. Richmond in the right arm and
Clemons in the back of the head.
Clemons died at the scene. The suspect fled.
Physical evidence collected from
the crime scene was processed and
a DNA profile was developed. A DNA
match was made to Wiltz. He was
serving a federal sentence for delivery of a controlled substance stemming from an arrest in 2008.
Wiltz was arrested without incident on March 6, 2013, during a traffic stop in the 8800 block of Pearl
Point.
This the 18th murder solved by
the HCSO’s Cold Case Unit since
Sheriff Adrian Garcia resurrected it in
early 2009.
yourhoustonnews.com
Texas tightens rules on
troopers' aerial shooting
State officials said
that troopers are now
forbidden from aerial
shooting unless
they're under fire
deadly weapon, the new policy states.
The American Civil Liberties Union
quickly applauded the move.
"We are relieved that Texas is
ending this extreme practice, which
no other Southwestern border states
have ever allowed," said Terri Burke,
executive director of the ACLU of
Texas. "We hope that this decision is
By Paul J. Weber,
a step, if only a small one, toward
Associated Press
ending the culture of violence that
AUSTIN, Texas — Nearly four pervades enforcement of border semonths after a Texas state trooper in curity in Texas."
a helicopter fired on a pickup truck
Criminal prosecutors in Hidalgo
speeding along the U.S.-Mexico bor- County still are investigating the
der, killing two
shooting, which
Guatemalan
caused
the
immigrants,
truck to crash
state officials
into a ditch.
said that troopTwo illegal imers are now
migrants died,
forbidden from
and a third was
aerial shooting
injured.
Auunless they're
thorities
said
under fire.
the wounded
Texas Deimmigrants
partment
of
were
among
Public Safety
six hiding unDirector Steve
der a blanket in
McCraw
anthe truck's bed.
nounced
the
"I'm a firm bepolicy change
liever they did
while
facing A truck travels along the stretch of gravel road exactly
what
questions from in southern Texas, Oct. 2012, where a Texas
they
thought
l a w m a k e r s Department of Public Safety helicopter and
they needed to
about
t h e sharpshooter assisted the previous day in the do,"
McCraw
deadly
high- chase of a suspected illegal immigrant
said.
smuggler. AP Image
speed pursuit
The
incident
near La Joya
began with a chase after Texas Parks
in October. The truck was mistakenly and Wildlife game wardens spotted a
thought to be carrying a drug load, red pickup near La Joya and the U.S.and DPS says a trooper opened fire Mexico border, about 250 miles south
to disable the vehicle because it was of San Antonio. The wardens rebarreling toward a school zone.
quested help, and the DPS helicopter
McCraw continued to defend that joined midway in the 14-mile, highshooting, even while rolling out new speed pursuit of what authorities said
rules that would now forbid it.
they believed was a "typical covered
"I'm convinced that now, from a drug load."
helicopter platform, that we shouldn't
In the days following the incident,
shoot unless being shot at, or some- civil rights groups and the Guatemaone is being shot at," McCraw said.
lan government expressed concerns
According to the revised policy that DPS essentially was investigating
later released by DPS, "a firearms itself because the Texas Rangers,
discharge from an aircraft is author- who were leading the investigation,
ized only when an officer reasonably fall under the DPS umbrella. A week
believes that the suspect has used or after the incident, McCraw said he
is about to use deadly force by use of had asked the FBI and the U.S. Jusa deadly weapon against the air crew, tice Department's Civil Rights Division
ground officers or innocent third par- to investigate and would turn over the
ties."
Texas Rangers' report.
A suspect driving aggressively or
recklessly does not constitute use of a
www.hcdo.com
Page 11
Judge’s Report
is no surprise to any native Texan like
me. It is far past time to bring these
people out of the shadows through
workable immigration reform. Such
reform is not within the scope of
county government, but it impacts us
tremendously.
The second looming issue is health
care. Harris County is home to the
Texas Medical Center, arguably the
greatest concentration of health care
expertise in the entire world. Yet, almost within the shadows of this institution exists a huge uninsured and underinsured population. The Harris
County Hospital District has a legal
and moral obligation to provide indigent health care. The best value for
taxpayers and the best outcome for
patients comes from establishing
medical homes through neighborhood
clinics. I believe we must do a better
job of coordinating public and private
resources to meet the health care
needs of the entire county. This is not
just about the health of individuals. It is
critical to the health of our entire community.
With the advent of the Section
1115 waiver process, the State of
Texas is taking a big step toward creating an indigent health care delivery
system that crosses county lines and
encourages innovative approaches.
In the debate about health care, it
must be remembered that in any delivery system, someone has to pay. The
Texas Hospital Association, the Texas
Medical Association and even the Legislative Budget Board believe Texas
should expand Medicaid coverage in
order to take advantage of the federal
matching funds. I agree with the health
care professionals. While the political
debate over the Affordable Care Act
continues, poor people will continue to
get sick and need care. Harris County
taxpayers should not have to foot the
bill while our federal tax dollars are
sent to other states.
Of course, with the Legislature in
session, there is one subject about
which I am obsessed. Funding for
mental health care must be increased
at the state level, and a plan must be
implemented to divert those with mental health issues from the criminal justice system. The Harris County Jail
should not be the largest mental health
facility in the state. The Harris County
Psychiatric Center should be fully utilized, and Harris County should take
the lead in developing a pilot project
that will make the entire nation take
Page 12
notice. State Sen. Joan Huffman and
members of the county legislative
delegation are working on legislation
to create just such a pilot project. It is
shameful that Texas ranks 51st
[including Washington, D.C.] in spending for mental health. It is also wasteful
of taxpayer dollars. By spending wisely
on mental health, we can save much
more in the criminal justice arena.
Even more importantly, we can improve lives and do what is right.
Yes, Harris County government is
in solid condition because of hard work
and wise decisions over a long period
of time. Being an arm of the state, Harris County has also benefited from the
Texas Economic Miracle. Really, the
Texas Economic Miracle is no miracle.
It, too, is the result of hard work and
wise decisions over a long period of
time. Government officials, business
leaders and taxpayers have all understood the necessity of spending wisely
to make a better Texas for future generations.
For better or worse, I have become
known for using the phrase “hunker
down” when urging area residents not
in harm’s way to stay off the evacuation routes during Hurricane Ike. Now
that phrase is used by folks all over.
That phrase should definitely not
be used when it comes to addressing
the issues facing Harris County. In
fact, just the opposite applies. Now,
when our county is strong, we are in a
position to be bold and creative in addressing our future.
Since I am speaking to a large segment of the business community, let
me use an applicable analogy. What
business owner would decide that they
are doing so well that there is no need
to invest in maintaining equipment or
upgrading processes? What business
owner would think it productive to fail
to invest in the well-being of his or her
employees? Yet, in the business of
government, too many officials are
promoting such self-destructive policies. Our county government, and the
state government upon which we rely,
must have a process for preparing for
the future.
The business community, transcending politics, must help drive the
process. Business leaders worked
alongside government officials to create the Houston Ship Channel and the
best state highways in the nation.
Business leaders worked alongside
Dr. Khator to make the University of
Houston a Tier One university and
alongside medical leaders to build the
world-renowned Texas Medical Cen-
What to do if you are involved
in a shooting or any other
critical incident
1. Call for medical assistance for yourself, other
deputies/officers, other citizens and even the
suspect if necessary.
2. Call the H.C.D.O. Emergency Assistance number,
713-659-0017 ext. 2. Stay on the line and you will be
connected directly to an attorney.
3. Speak to NO ONE until the attorney arrives at the
scene, usually only 20-30 minutes.
4. Relax, you joined the H.C.D.O. You’re in great
hands and you are protected by a force of
thousands.
5. The H.C.D.O. attorney(s) will assist our members
in giving any statements and in preparation for any
“walk through” at the scene.
6. The attorneys will accompany the member to the
appropriate investigating agency where a sworn
affidavit will be prepared pertaining to the events
giving rise to the shooting.
7. The H.C.D.O. attorney(s) will accompany the
member at their Grand Jury appearance.
Need Extra Cash?
HCDO members can earn big commissions by selling
or referring advertisers to the Harris County Star.
Any business that wants to have Harris County
Deputies as customers would love to advertise in
The Star so it is as easy as asking them. You can
earn hundreds of dollars a month, every month, and
help your union out at the same time. Call us for
more information or visit the HCDO website at
www.hcdo.com The Harris County Star
Phone: 713-659-0005 Fax: 713-750-0070
ter.
In a political world of labels – Republicans, Democrats, conservatives
and liberals – business leaders need
to step up and work alongside those of
us in government to make sure we
keep moving forward and that we re-
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
main focused on the future.
All of us have a role to play in securing a bright future for our region.
For Harris County, the bottom line is
this. We are currently quite strong, but
we should leverage that strength to
secure an even stronger future.
What's the difference?
Dear Dave,
My wife and I make $140,000 a
year, and we’re working on our debt
snowball. We’re almost out of debt, but
we still have two small car payments
and some credit card debt. She wants
to get rid of the credit card debt but
doesn’t mind us having car payments.
Can you help me understand this?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
I’m not sure I understand her thinking either. The car payments and the
credit card debt are the same thing.
They’re both debt payments, and you’re
being charged interest on both of them.
The only difference is that one is attached to a car and one’s not. It makes
about as much sense as saying you like
Visa better than MasterCard.
Even if she has some strange hangup about car depreciation, that argument doesn’t hold water either. Cars go
down in value whether you borrowed
money to buy them or not. A $20,000
vehicle will be worth $10,000 in just a
few years no matter what you do. A car
payment won’t keep it from depreciating
or slow the rate of depreciation.
Sometimes people get burned out or
tired of paying the price to become debt
-free. It can happen when you’ve been
working on something for a while, and it
seems like you’re never going to get
there. Sit down and have a gentle, loving talk with your wife. Find out why she
feels that way about the car payments
and where the root of the problem really
lies.
She may just need some support
and encouragement from the man in
her life. Remind her how far you’ve
come together on this journey, how
close you are to winning, and how
much you love her. You’re too close to
making your financial dreams come true
to stop now!
There's a better option
Dear Dave,
I’m 23 years old, and I was in the
military for five years. While serving I
received what is now $2,700 in Series
EE bonds. Should I keep them?
Tammy
Dear Tammy,
If it were me, I’d cash them in and
do my own investing with the money.
Series EE bonds have a very low rate
of return. They don’t pay much, and
they’re not good long-term investments.
They’re almost like keeping your money
in a certificate of deposit over the long
haul.
Investing is never a bad idea, and I
know that may seem like a lot of money
to you at the moment. But my advice is
to cash out the bonds, find a financial
advisor with the heart of a teacher, and
invest the money in growth stock mutual funds with a good five- to 10-year
track record. After that, get set up for
auto-draft on your checking account
and put at least $50 a month into your
new mutual fund. That’s a much better
plan!
Can I motivate my parents?
Dear Dave,
My parents are close to retirement
and very heavily leveraged. Do you
have any advice on how I can help motivate them to succeed financially?
Jack
Dear Jack,
I appreciate your concern for your
mom and dad, but I’m not sure you can
motivate anyone to do something.
Sometimes people don’t have motivation because they’ve lost hope. In turn,
it’s that sense of hopelessness that
keeps them from moving forward. I
think in these situations the best you
can do is to show them hope. And one
of the best ways to do that is to share
your own story. You can also examine
the numbers with them to show that the
light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always
an oncoming train.
I do this a lot with callers on my radio show. After we look at the pieces of
the puzzle together, I might show them
how they can pay off $50,000 of debt in
a year’s time. Most of these people
aren’t bankrupt; they’re just plain
scared. So there’s a lot of power in that
little word “hope.”
Sit down with your parents and let
them know how much you love them
and want them to enjoy their retirement.
See if you can find out how much income they have versus the amount of
debt they’ve piled up, then begin to formulate a step-by-step plan. Show them
how they can begin to get traction and
free up their money by living on a
budget and getting out of debt. You can
even offer to be their counselor or accountability partner.
You want them to be safe and secure in their retirement, and they deserve some dignity after working hard
all their lives. So, in my mind, hope is
the best thing you can offer. Motivation
is a different story. That has to come
from within. You can’t really motivate
the unmotivated.
No on rent-to-own!
Dear Dave,
What do you think about rent-to-own
housing? I’m not sure we’re financially
ready to buy yet, but we don’t like giving
money to landlords. Is rent-to-own a
wise compromise?
Mike
Dear Mike,
I wouldn’t recommend getting mixed
up in a rent-to-own situation. I don’t
think it’s a wise compromise, and it’s
also the kind of deal that works out well
for the landlord, not the buyer.
If you’re not financially ready to purchase a house, then you need to get
your life in order before you take on a
major commitment like becoming a
homeowner. Get your debts paid off,
get an emergency fund of three to six
months of expenses in place, and save
up for a down payment of 20 percent. I
know it’ll take some time and it might be
difficult, but that’s what I’d recommend.
Buying a home when you’re broke,
or trying to trick the system with a rentto-own deal, usually doesn’t work. I
spent a lot of time in the real estate
business, and I still own several properties. I don’t do these deals because
statistically the majority of people who
rent to own never end up owning the
property.
Take my advice and go slow, Mike.
When you buy a home, you want it to
be a blessing, not a burden!
In-laws and out of debt
Dear Dave,
I’m 27 and married, and we have
two kids. I make $90,000 a year, but we
have $80,000 in consumer debt—
$48,000 of which is in car loans. The
rest is credit card debt. My wife’s parents have offered to let us move in with
them so we can get out of debt faster.
Do you think this is a good idea?
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
If I were in your situation, I would not
move in with the in-laws. You’ve got an
absurd amount of money wrapped up in
those cars. I’d sell the stupid things,
start living on a budget and paying
down debt, and keep my dignity.
In my mind there are only two sce-
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold
narios where you’d even consider taking the in-laws up on their offer. One is
where they’re absolutely wonderful people and you have a great, non-toxic relationship with them, where everyone
involved knows their boundaries. Even
then, I’d only consider this if it were for
a very short, agreed-upon amount of
time.
The second scenario would be if
moving in with the in-laws were the only
way to accomplish your goal. And you
don’t pass that test. You guys can get
out of debt pretty quickly if you’ll just
lose these ridiculous cars! Think about
it. If you had two little paid-for beaters,
your lives would be so much different.
You could even save a little money on
the side while you were paying down
debt and buy a better car as soon as
the debt was gone.
If you can’t tell, I’m pretty big on
maintaining dignity. You might love your
cars so much that you’re unwilling to
make the sacrifice. Not me. The money
going into your automobiles is insane,
and that’s your biggest problem!
Dave's thoughts on HARP
Dear Dave,
What do you think about the HARP
program, and what exactly is it?
Ivy
Dear Ivy,
The Home Affordable Refinance
Program is designed for people who
have made their payments on time but
are underwater on their mortgages. Being “underwater” means they owe more
on their homes than the homes are
worth. So basically it gives them the
opportunity to refinance their home
loans.
The HARP program is the only part
of the Making Home Affordable program that actually worked. And to be
honest, it has worked well. In contrast,
the recent Home Loan Modification program is a piece of junk and all about
political posturing. About 93 percent of
the people who applied for a home loan
modification didn’t get one. It was just
another case of the government pretending to do something.
I’d advise looking into the HARP
program if you’ve got a good credit history and you’re underwater on your current home. Lots of HARP program applications are being approved, and the
deals are closing. That’s what really
matters when you find yourself in a
situation like this.
Page 13
TRAINING
Harris County
Sheriff’s
Academy
The Harris County Sheriff's Academy is certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
and Education and abides by its rules.
Training certificates are provided to all
students who satisfactorily complete
Academy courses, and all training is
reported to TCLEOSE. Certain
courses require prerequisites (as indicated in the course descriptions) which
must be met prior to acceptance for
admission.
The Academy charges a nominal
fee for individuals sponsored by agencies not funded by Harris County:
Basic Law Enforcement - $550.00
Advanced Training Classes - $1.00 per
contact hour with a minimum charge
of $10.00 per course
The fee must be paid on the first
day of class by cash, cashiers check,
agency check or money order made
payable to "HARRIS COUNTY". We
cannot accept personal checks.
Some courses taught by outside
vendors require an additional fee. This
fee applies to all students, and should
be paid according to the instructions
listed in the course description.
TEEX Basic County Corrections
Physical Skills – April 3rd – 8a.m. 24
-hour course. Students must be employed by a law enforcement agency.
This course will provide the student
with the physical skills training requirements of the Texas Commission
on Law Enforcement Standards and
Education number 1071. The course
will provide the training needed to
understand and apply basic self defense techniques and inmate handling
techniques required in the correctional
setting. Texas county and municipal
Page 14
jail staff responsible for inmate oversight and control within a jail facility.
Physical participation is required. Participant should be in good physical
condition. TCLEOSE reporting to be
done by TEEX.
NCIC/TCIC for less than Full
Access Operators – April 5th – 8a.m.;
April 16th – 8a.m. Eight-hour course.
Awareness/The Bridge – April 5th
– 8a.m. Eight-hour course. No fee.
Class is taught by The Bridge Over
Troubled Waters, Inc. This class provides students an overview of sexual
violence which includes historical perspectives, myths and facts, statistics,
legislative updates, impact of sexual
violence on the victim, profile of perpetrators, strategies to work with victims and victim advocates through a
Sexual Assault Response teams, and
primary prevention strategies for communities.
Tow Truck Students must be employed by a law enforcement agency.
$10.00 fee for students not funded by
Harris County. This class is for any
user who will be submitting requests
for information through the NCIC/
TCIC system.
Sexual Assault Rules, Regulation
and Inspection – April 8th – 8a.m.
Six-hour course. $10.00 fee for students not funded by Harris County.
The goal of the course is to give a basic understanding of Tow Truck Rules
and Towing Policy and learn to complete an inspection of permitted Tow
Trucks.
Off Duty Weapons Course –
April 9th – 8a.m. Eight-hour course.
Students must be commissioned
HCSO Peace Officers. The Off Duty
Weapons Course is designed to teach
the undercover, plainclothes, and offduty officer how to carry their weapon
and draw and engage in a deadly force
confrontation. The instruction will
cover the pros and cons of using a holster and not using a holster while carrying a weapon on or off duty. The
course also covers the variety of holsters that are available and their pros
and cons. Students, upon the successful completion of dry fire drills, will
learn to draw and engage in a close
quarter combat situation during livefire drills. Ammunition for this course
is provided by department.
Customer Service - An Unorthodox Approach to an Age-Old Challenge – April 9th – 8a.m. Four-hour
course. This course addresses the impact of both work and home life on
customer service. It will cover questions such as: Who are your customers? How do you deal with customers
at odds with one another? Who is your
number one customer? For whom are
you performing? Who are you? What
do you really want? This course concludes with a detailed discussion of
Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly
Effective People” as a blueprint for
excellent customer service in law enforcement. This course is presented
by Joe Serio/Joe Serio Enterprises,
LLC. Joe Serio was a presenter at the
HCSO 2011 Executive Leadership
Conference.
Cultural Diversity-3939 / Required Training (rev. 2009) – April
11th – 8a.m. Eight-hour course.
Harris County. Updated effective
January 1, 2009.
Intermediate Special Investigative Topics (rev 2010) – April 15th –
8a.m. Eight-hour course. $10.00 fee
for students not funded by Harris
County.
Basic Police ATV (Course Number 3300) – April 16th – 8a.m.; April
23rd – 8a.m. Eight-hour course. Stu-
www.hcdo.com
dents must be TCLEOSE certified and
commissioned Peace Officers. $10.00
fee for non Harris County personnel.
This course is designed to familiarize
officers in the operation and development of the Police Special Purpose
Vehicle to include but not limited to
the following:
• Safe and responsible operation during Special Patrol Duties
• Use on improved as well as tactical
off-road use
• ATV Safety Institute-Rider Safety
Course
• Proper tactics involved while engaging suspects from the front, rear and
sides
Students must have a basic understanding of the operations of the ATV.
It is preferable to provide your own
ATV (not under 250cc). If you are
interested in taking the course, but
cannot provide your own ATV, contact Sgt. Fonville at
Kim.Fonville@sheriff.hctx.net. Use
of HCSO ATVs are not guaranteed
and will be loaned on a first come,
first serve basis, if available. The
course location and further information will be e-mailed to students prior
to class date. Outside agencies should
send Sgt. Fonville your personal email for communication on class.
Clothing and Accoutrements: DOT
approved helmet, eye protection, full
length gloves, long sleeved shirt,
heavy duty pants, ankle high (at a
minimum) footwear, Sam Browne, and
duty weapon.
TCIC/NCIC for Full Access Operator (Course Number 3802) –
April 16th – 8a.m. 16-hour course.
Students must be employed by a law
enforcement agency. $16.00 fee for
students not funded by Harris County.
This class is for employees who enter
data into the system.
Gang Awareness-A Little About
Training
A Lot – April 16th – 8a.m. Eight-hour
course. Students must be employed by
a law enforcement agency. $10.00 fee
County. The goal of this class is for
the average person, officer or not, to
gain a greater perspective and broader
insight of the gang subculture. The
class will provide the student with
tools regarding laws that affect gang
members, as well as identifiers. The
student should leave with a greater
understanding and knowledge, and
how to apply it to some part of their
lives.
Identity Theft – April 19th – 8a.m.
Four-hour course. $10.00 fee for students not funded by Harris County.
Narcotics Investigations Course –
April 22nd – 8a.m. 40-hour course.
Harris County. This program is designed for any law enforcement personnel who has been recently assigned
or has been assigned to a Drug Task
Force and Patrol Deputies. In addition, law enforcement personnel who
are anticipating a near future assignment to a drug enforcement unit
should benefit substantially. Noninvestigative supervisory personnel
who have recently transferred into a
command position in a narcotics unit
may also consider this course as a basic orientation to narcotics investigations before beginning their new duties. Similarly, officers currently serving in narcotics units, but not yet afforded the opportunity to attend and
participate in a formal training course
in narcotics investigations are encouraged to attend.
Basic Sign Language (Course
Number 3800) – April 22nd – 8a.m.
40-hour course. Students must be
funded by a law enforcement agency.
$40.00 fee. This course is designed to
prepare students to effectively communicate with hearing-impaired persons.
Emphasis will be placed on number
and letter formation and recognition.
The student must have knowledge and
understanding of the statutes and rules
governing the material to be taught
(Narcotics Investigations).
Basic Telecommunicator – April
22nd – 8a.m. 40-hour course. Students must be sponsored by a law enforcement agency. $40.00 fee for students not funded by Harris County.
The Basic Telecommunications Certification Course is designed to provide
the beginning telecommunicator with
an understanding of public safety communications as it relates to the handling of calls for assistance from the
public. This course satisfies
§1701.405 of the Texas Occupations
Code requiring that individuals being
employed by a law enforcement
agency in the capacity of a telecommunication receive a minimum of
forty hours of training on topics in
public safety communications.
Basic Shotgun Marksmanship
Course – April 22nd – 8a.m. Eighthour course. Students must be licensed Peace Officers. $10.00 fee for
students not sponsored by Harris
County. The goal of this course is to
instruct the student concerning the basic fundamentals of shotgun marksmanship, from the classroom to practical application on the shooting range.
Outside agencies need to bring 200
rounds of Birdshot, 00, or #4buck,and
50 rounds of Duty Handgun ammo.
Shotguns must have slings. 12 Gauge
Pump Shotguns, no semi-auto shotguns.
Meet Your Glock – April 24th –
8a.m. Four-hour course. $10.00 fee
County. This course is designed to
teach the student the basic mechanics
of the Glock handgun and to understand the Glock save-action pistol.
The student will also be taught how to
field strip the Glock and be given instruction to maintain a Glock handgun.
Student must provide a Glock handgun
and a gun cleaning kit.
Stress Management (Course
Number 3800) – April 26th – 8a.m.
Eight-hour course. Students must employed by a law enforcement agency.
No fee. This course will teach methods of managing the health-damaging
psychological stress incurred by peace
officers in the performance of their
duties.
Mounted Patrol Recertification
(Course Number 3300) – April 27th –
8a.m. 20-hour course. Students must
be currently assigned to the Mounted
Patrol Division.
Basic Police Bicycle Patrol
(Course Number 3300) – April 29th –
8a.m. 40-hour course. Students must
be TCLEOSE licensed and commissioned Peace Officers. $40.00 fee for
students not funded by Harris County.
The goal of this course is to train the
student in police bicycle patrol. The
student will receive instruction in basic bicycle patrol skills, slow speed
balance maneuvers, using gears, controlled braking, and endurance riding.
Equipment needed: mountain bicycle,
helmet, eye protection, and gloves.
Arlington police detail restrictions
on aerial drone program
scene. The aircraft must be in the
ARLINGTON -- For about two team's line of sight at all times.
“If they can't see the equipment
years, the Arlington Police Department
has been practicing with its two, small- being flown, you can't fly it,” Cook
battery, remote-controlled helicopters said.
The program has its critics. One of
in a restricted area of the city, but not
the
most outspoken is the American
anymore.
Civil
Liberties Union.
The Federal Aviation Administra“This
allows for warrantless
tion signed off on the department’s
searches,
and
I think the Constitution
waiver late February to use the chopis clear on
p e rs ,
also
that,” said Terri
known
as
Burke, the Exdrones,
for
ecutive Direcmissions.
tor
of
the
Sgt. Chris
A
C
L
U
of
Cook,
a
Texas.
“We
spokesman
are going to
from the detalk them to
partment,
have
really
claim s
the
strong, solid,
equipment will
and
be used for For about two years, the Arlington Police Depart- policies
practices
that
critical
inci- ment has been practicing with its two, smallare
absolute
in
dents, includ- battery, remote-controlled helicopters in a retheir
way
of
not
ing major car stricted area of the city, but not anymore. The
violating cona c c i d e n t s , Federal Aviation Administration signed off on
missing per- the department’s waiver late February to use the stitutional protections.”
sons,
a n d choppers, also known as drones, for missions.
The
departc h e m i c a l Credit WFAA
ment
told
spills.
News
8,
it
has
implemented
proce“We believe, really and truly, the
return of investment on this program is dures to protect citizen's rights. It
going to be substantial, from locating plans to demonstrate the helicopters
our missing persons to clearing our in the coming weeks and wants to
reach out to the ACLU.
freeways more quickly,” Cook said.
“We do not use the equipment for
The department can fly the helicopters, which are equipped with cam- routine patrol or any kind of surveileras, south of I-30, but there are a few lance,” Cook said. “We won’t use them
in police pursuits either. If we need a
restrictions.
The equipment cannot be used at search warrant to look in someone’s
night. It has to fly low to the ground backyard now, this is the same proto(within 400 feet) and the department col. We will need a search warrant for
has to notify air traffic control before this.”
The department has been working
takeoff. The aircraft can only fly about
an hour, and the department has to with the FAA, the Justice Department
get approval from the program’s ad- and other agencies throughout the
entire process. They hope its program
ministrator before it’s deployed.
“We actually have to give the lati- serves as a model for other departtude and longitude of where we are ments across the country.
Texas Representative, Lance
going to be, and so this is a clearlydefined incident perimeter,” Cook said. Gooden (R-Terrell), introduced a bill
The aircraft can only be operated that would make it illegal to use a
by officers who passed a pilot's test. A drone to do surveillance on private
small group of officers have been property without a search warrant.
trained. An observer also has to be on
By Monika Diaz, WFAA
www.hcdo.com
Page 15
River Oaks
Chrysler Jeep
Dodge
Call Capt. Alan Helfman
713-524-3801
www.riveroakscars.com
Captain Alan Helfman
Page 16
www.hcdo.com
Blue/Gold

The Harris County Star - Harris County Deputies` Organization

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