Thread by @houmayor

The @houstonpolice Department is committed to having the right leadership and officers on the frontline, men and women, to protect and serve our community.

Unfortunately, major cities across the nation, including Houston, are experiencing an increase in homicides, shootings and other crimes during the #COVID19 pandemic.

We have worked to help people holistically. For example, there @HoustonHealth Dept. launched a mental health hotline. I expanded my anti-trafficking division to include domestic violence because domestic violence calls are up.

🚨 Today I am announcing that to combat crime and decrease the numbers, I have approved a COVID-19 Related Crime Reduction Program. We will put $4.1 million of CARES Act funding into an overtime initiative for the Houston Police Department.

Overall, Violent Crime is up 11% in the City of Houston.

There are 6 hot spots that are driving our violent crime numbers. Those spots are the Westside, South Gessner, North Belt, Southeast, South Central, and Midwest.

Beginning today, through the end of the year, there will be an additional 110 officers deployed each day to saturate those areas with the objective of reducing crime.

Throughout those areas, HPD officers will be on proactive patrols to reduce crime.

The overall goal of this initiative is to drive down violent crime by promoting safer neighborhoods through enforcement strategies.

Police cannot do it alone. HPD will coordinate its efforts with the business districts, business owners and local leaders in conducting this overtime initiative.

Each crime victim is a more than a number. It is someone’s family member, a father, mother or child.

This is our city and we must work together. As mayor, I will not tolerate lawlessness or indifference.

Together, we must make our community safer.