Crime Down - In Focus with Ted Oberg (ABC Local 13)
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Officers in Action
During the month of June, Officer Michael T. Young, Officer Michael Walding, Officer Travis Curtner, and Officer David Enlow, executed 175 felony warrant services as part of their assignment to the North Division Warrant Execution Team. These felony warrant services resulted in 91 felony arrests.
The following is a brief summary of the type of arrests made by the officers:
Capital Murder – one arrest
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child – one arrest
Aggravated Sexual Assault of the Elderly – one arrest
Indecency with a Child - one arrest
Fail to Register as Sex Offender – one arrest
Child Pornography – fourteen arrests
Aggravated Robbery – ten arrests
Aggravated Assault – seventeen arrests
Kidnapping - two arrests
Narcotics – twenty-six arrests
Burglary – nine arrests
Felony Theft/Fraud – thirteen arrests
Felon in Possession of Firearm – one arrest
Engage in Organized Crime – one arrest
Other Felonies - five arrests
The contribution that these officers make to the safety of the citizens of Houston is immeasurable and should be commended.
I have been in many foot chases throughout my career. Sometimes I caught them and sometimes I did not. These guys...NOT!
Last month, Officer R. Worsham, and Officer S. Blevins were dispatched to a suspicious person call. Officer Worsham and Officer Blevins arrived at the location minutes after being dispatched and quickly realized the call was a burglary of a motor vehicle in progress involving two suspects. The officers quickly detained one of the suspects close to the original scene and then began a search for the second suspect who fled the scene on foot. Officer Blevins caught the second suspect after a brief foot chase in an adjacent neighborhood.
The suspects were brought back to the scene and identified by the victims whose vehicles were burglarized. All of the property stolen by the suspects was recovered and returned to the rightful owners.
Many of the crime problems facing our city are due to criminals, such as these suspects, who roam our streets. We are proud to recognize the contributions of these two officers to the quality of life in Houston. This arrest is an excellent example of teamwork, dedication and cooperation leading to a successful conclusion without incident. Because of the efforts and dedication of these officers, the city of Houston is a better and safer place to live and work. Due to the officers' professionalism, keen instincts and innate skills they arrested two suspects and quite possibly stopped further burglaries that plague our city.
Once the badge goes on, it never comes off, whether they can see it, or not. It fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride, integrity and guts, can ever sleep through the 'call of the wild' that wafts through bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
-Author Unknown
This is why...
Ever wonder why police officers write tickets for speeding? Believe me, you will get that question many times when you become a police officer on patrol. I wish I had a nickel for everyone who asked me "don't you have anything better to do than write me a ticket for speeding ?" Watch this video closely. It captures a 19 year old who was travelling over 100 mph while weaving in and out of traffic lose control of his 3500 pound car. He survived, but I bet he wishes he was pulled over for speeding before this occurred.
All schools are back in session today and you should remember to drive carefully and please be on the look out for the little ones.
With school back in session it reminded me of a story that happened to me while on patrol. I have posted about this before, but with school back in session, I thought I should post about it again.
When I got off of probation 28 years ago, they gave me a patrol car and a radio and told me I was on my own that day, my first time without a partner. It was a strange, yet exciting feeling as I got behind the wheel of a police car by myself. I was so young (19), I think my voice was still changing. Within the first ten minutes of my shift an incident occurred. Not a big incident, but an incident just the same. I was traveling 20 mph in a 20 mph school zone when I noticed a car pass me doing 40 mph in the school zone. This is it, my first traffic stop by myself! I pulled this violator over to tell him of the dangers of speeding in a school zone. I walked up to the window and asked the very polite gentleman for his license and insurance. The man was very cooperative and complied with my request. As I walked back to my patrol car to write the ticket, I checked the date and realized it was SATURDAY!
I walked backed up to the nice man and quietly told him that I had the wrong car and he was free to leave.
Part of police work involves common sense and quick thinking on your feet. I am sure that it is not intended for these kinds of situations, but it still helps.
Be safe out there today!
After failing miserably at Macy's Department Store, "Rex" found his true calling with the HPD K-9 Unit.
Between June 21, 2010 and July 22, 2010, Officer Shane Harvey, and Officer Tim Odom, completed a rotational assignment with the North Division Warrant Execution Team. During that time, these officers played an important role in the development and execution of 176 felony warrant services. These felony warrant services resulted in 86 felony arrests. The following is a brief summary of the type of arrests made by these officers:
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child – five arrests
Aggravated Sexual Assault - two arrests
Child Pornography – twelve arrests
Kidnapping – one arrest
Aggravated Robbery – three arrests
Aggravated Assault – twenty-three arrests
Burglary – eight arrests
Narcotics – twenty-seven arrests
Felony Theft – fifteen arrests
Weapons Offenses –four arrests
Other Felonies –six arrests
During their assignment, these officers displayed an outstanding level of determination, dedication, and resourcefulness that sets the standard for all officers to follow. Officers Harvey and Odom also demonstrated a high level of tactical proficiency, as well as an impressive knowledge of the local criminals and the local hot spots for criminal activity.
You never know what you're gonna get...
Last Saturday (August 14, 2010) a pair of zebras created problems in Sacramento County, California.
Forrest Gump's mama said it best. I just want to change the words from "life" to, "police work" is like a box of chocolates. I mean really, how many careers are out there where everyday is different and is never boring.
Officer Greg Smith and his K-9 partner "Alpos" responded to a burglary of a residence and noticed the suspect exiting through the broken window of the home. After verbal commands toward the suspect to get on the ground were ignored, Officer Smith released Alpos to gain control of the suspect.
Officer Smith moved in to assist Alpos and took the suspect to the ground when he noticed that the suspect was holding a screwdriver. The suspect not only stabbed Alpos but also stabbed Officer Smith in his chest, cutting through his uniform shirt, but was stopped by his bulletproof vest. The suspect continued struggling with Officer Smith and again attempted to stab him. Fearing for his life, Officer Smith removed his duty weapon and fired one shot at the suspect, fatally striking him.
Alpos was treated by a veterinarian and after some healing time, made a full recovery.
Officer Smith and Alpos were recently awarded the Hostile Engagement Award by the Chief of Police, Charles A. McClelland Jr.
Educational hours decreased
You now must have at least 48 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university with at minimum of a 2.0 grade point average rather than the 60 hours as requested before.
A minimum of two years active duty in the United States armed forces and received an honorable discharge;
At least five years of full-time employment as a peace officer licensed by TCLEOSE or an equivalent licensing entity in another state.
at 9:17 AM 14 comments:
Sergeant J. Cruser, of the Northeast Division, noticed a certain Denny's restaurant had been robbed on two separate occasions over a period of three days. Both of the robberies occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. in the morning. Recognizing that a possible pattern might be emerging, he informed his beat units to t...ry to be close to the Denny's between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. for the next few days in the event that another robbery occurred. Sure enough within a couple of days, at 3:23 a.m., an alert security guard sitting in his car at a nearby video store observed three people dressed in all black clothes walking through the parking lot of the Denny's.
The people were almost into the Denny's when one of them saw the security guard sitting in his car. The people immediately turned around and walked away from the restaurant. The security guard knew of the previous robberies, thought the people were acting extremely suspicious, so he called the police.
This call to the police set in motion a series of events that occurred so quickly that for the sequence to be understood time entries have to be listed in seconds.
3:24:22 a.m.: A Robbery in Progress call slip of the Denny's was generated.
3:24:38 a.m.: Officer L. Ingle was dispatched to the call as the primary officer.
3:25:15 a.m.: Officer A. Garcia responds to the call as a backup officer.
3:25:59 a.m.: Officer A. Garcia arrives at the location and finds the suspects.
3:27:39 a.m.: All suspects including the getaway driver are detained.
When the first three suspects were taken into custody, Officer L. Ingle saw a vehicle sitting on the side of the road a short distance away behind the Denny's restaurant. A careful observation of this vehicle found a fourth suspect sitting in it with the headlights off and the motor running. This suspect was also apprehended and later determined to be the getaway driver.
Once all of the suspects were found and detained, an investigation was started to determine what was actually going to have happened at the Denny's that night.
While handling the suspects, numerous items of evidence were discovered. First, all four of the suspects were noted to be dressed in all black clothes and two of the suspects had gloves in their possession. Another suspect had a BB gun on him that had been modified to look like a real pistol. A third suspect was found to be in possession of a kitchen knife with a 9 ½ inch blade. Finally, several cans of pepper spray were recovered and the fourth suspect had a "Taser" type of stun device on her.
The following morning Senior Police Officer L. Roberts who is assigned to the Robbery Division received the case for investigation and interviewed the four suspects. A series of confessions and haphazard statements about what was going on that night concluded Officer Roberts's investigation into this incident.
While at this time there appears no way to link these suspects to the other two robberies at the same Denny's, all four of these suspects were subsequently charged by Officer Roberts with the felony offense of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery.
What was to be a violent takeover style robbery of a Denny's restaurant was stopped in ninety-seven seconds by the alert observations of a nearby security guard and more importantly, by the timely arrival of Officers A. Garcia and L. Ingle. Without this quick response, the four suspects in this incident would have easily gotten away and would never have been charged with a crime. Four repeat criminal offenders were taken off the streets of Houston by good police work.
497 years old (in dog years)
The movie "The Wizard of Oz" turns 71 today. The iconic film, which premiered on August 12, 1939, is still a favorite of audiences today. I wonder if the film would have been different if HPD K-9 "Alpos" was there instead of "Toto".
Test Question: What do you see in this picture that could be considered against the law?
One Year!
It has been one year since the official launch of the HPD Facebook. Are you a fan yet? It's very easy, let me point you in the right direction.
Just click right here www.facebook.com/houstonpolice and push the "like" button.
New Division Perhaps?
K-9, Mounted Patrol, watch out, we may have a brand new division - Bird Busters.
"Kuzya" the parrot is the pet of Gennadi Kurkul, who lives in London, and said that he's delighted with his crime-busting pal. 'It must have been about 4am when he heard Kuzya let out a massive scream. The noise he made must have terrified the burglars because they ran straight out of the house. You could hear it all over the Docklands', Mr Kurkul told local newspapers. When the crooks opened the door and entered the house, Kuzya made sure to scare them off. His owner continued: 'He's a fantastic bird. He follows me all round the house like a dog. 'I don't keep him in a cage, he just finds a spot at night where he likes to sleep and settles down there – sometimes under the stairs.
This past Saturday, members of the HPD South Central Patrol Division teamed up with the staff of the Ripley House Neighborhood Center to help kids go back to school.
As part of the Ripley House's Back-to-School Community Health Fair, uniformed HPD officers fingerprinted more than 400 children and then provided the parents with Child Identification Kits.
Children of area residents also received health information and back to school supplies.
"It's a great way to help the kids and their parents get ready for the upcoming school year," said HPD Senior Police Officer J.F. Sanchez.
Working together, Houston police and the public can help "Keep Houston Safe."
For more safety information, visit our website at www.houstonpolice.org
and click on the "Keep Houston Safe" logo.
at 2:12 PM 3 comments:
Possessed? Strange event caught on dashcam.
While on patrol you should always be aware of your surroundings and what is going on around you at all times. The quick reactions of this officer and a little luck saved his life. The telephone pole looks liked it was possessed and was tossed about like balsa wood. Watch this video and remember it when you become a police officer. Always access the situation and surroundings while on your call for service.
Farewell Old Four Legged Friend - HPD Mounted Horse "Gray" hangs up his saddle
Felicia Bures with Gray
Senior Police Officer Dennis Spradlin with Gray
"Gray" was born April 4, 1989 in Neuenkirchen, Germany. He is a gelding, dark bay, branded Hanoverian; a great grandson of Grande, one of the foundation stallions of the Hanoverian breed in Germany.
He was trained and shown by a professional rider in Jumper competitions throughout Germany. Once he retired from jumping he was purchased by Ms. Felicia Bures. Gray arrived in Houston in the fall of 2000 to be her dressage horse. In 2001 Ms. Bures contacted HPD Mounted Patrol to see if Gray might be considered as a candidate for the program. Once it was discovered that Gray had the goods, he was given a job on the force that he loved, and a partner, Senior Officer Dennis Spradlin, that was devoted to him.
Gray has worked numerous special events throughout his career including parades, protests, World Series, Super Bowl, officer's funerals, dignitary assignments and Hurricane Katrina relief assignments.
Gray also participated in hundreds of demonstrations and entertained thousands of people throughout his career.
Ms. Bures wanted HPD to know that she is beyond proud of the wonderful job Gray has done during his years of service and wanted to give a special thank you to HPD Mounted officers, Senior Officer Greg Sokoloski for his commitment to the program, and to Senior Officer Dennis Spradlin for his love and devotion to Gray.