Click Play Above
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
9-11 Memorial
Click Play Above
As a special tribute, HPD and HFD joined forces this morning at the Houston Police Memorial to honor those who perished eight years ago.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Flu Season is around the corner!
Chron.com posted some tips on being safe during the upcoming flu season. Click here to check it out: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/6593370.html
Friday, July 10, 2009
WHAT HAPPENS TO CASH SEIZED?
The Houston Police Department’s Funds, Informants and Seizure Team (FIST) has processed Narcotics Division cash seizures totaling approximately $8 million from the first of the year through the end of May.
FIST processes the seizures for the Narcotics Division and all other divisions of the Department.
For the same period in 2008, Houston Police Department seizures totaled approximately $15 million.
This year-to-year decrease may be due to increased cash seizures at southwest border ports of entry. In the last eight months, federal agents seized $26.5 million, up from $6.9 million during the same period in the prior year.
When the Houston Police Department seizes contraband, currency, or property, the seizure will be conducted according to the legal guidelines of the Harris County District Attorney.
There have been various notable currency seizures to date, in relation to Narcotics Division investigations in the first five months of 2009 that range from $100,000 to more than $1 million.
So, what happens to all that cash?
The legal process can take up to two years for disposition and distribution of seized money following the conclusion of a case.
The district attorney is responsible for reviewing and filing the civil actions required in contraband cases, which includes the disposition of seized cash.
Disposition of cash seizures is ultimately determined by the appropriate court.
Ultimately, seized money can be used for law enforcement purposes, such as overtime and safety equipment.
However, it’s important to note that there are guidelines regarding the percentage of seized monies awarded to local, state and federal agencies at the conclusion of the seizure process. And, currency seized is not always indicative of the amount subsequently awarded to any criminal justice or government agency.
If seized money is awarded to the City of Houston, it is returned to the Police Department in the form of a check and given to the department’s Budget and Finance Division.
Then, the Chief of Police or designee will direct the disposition of those funds for use within the department.
In the last 10 years, the Houston Police Department’s Narcotics Division seized $152 million of the Department’s total seizures of $164 million.
FIST processes the seizures for the Narcotics Division and all other divisions of the Department.
For the same period in 2008, Houston Police Department seizures totaled approximately $15 million.
This year-to-year decrease may be due to increased cash seizures at southwest border ports of entry. In the last eight months, federal agents seized $26.5 million, up from $6.9 million during the same period in the prior year.
When the Houston Police Department seizes contraband, currency, or property, the seizure will be conducted according to the legal guidelines of the Harris County District Attorney.
There have been various notable currency seizures to date, in relation to Narcotics Division investigations in the first five months of 2009 that range from $100,000 to more than $1 million.
So, what happens to all that cash?
The legal process can take up to two years for disposition and distribution of seized money following the conclusion of a case.
The district attorney is responsible for reviewing and filing the civil actions required in contraband cases, which includes the disposition of seized cash.
Disposition of cash seizures is ultimately determined by the appropriate court.
Ultimately, seized money can be used for law enforcement purposes, such as overtime and safety equipment.
However, it’s important to note that there are guidelines regarding the percentage of seized monies awarded to local, state and federal agencies at the conclusion of the seizure process. And, currency seized is not always indicative of the amount subsequently awarded to any criminal justice or government agency.
If seized money is awarded to the City of Houston, it is returned to the Police Department in the form of a check and given to the department’s Budget and Finance Division.
Then, the Chief of Police or designee will direct the disposition of those funds for use within the department.
In the last 10 years, the Houston Police Department’s Narcotics Division seized $152 million of the Department’s total seizures of $164 million.
Friday, May 15, 2009
HPD CRIME LAB FIREARMS SECTION RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN FORENSIC SCIENCE AWARD
The Firearms Section of the Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory Division has been selected to receive the 2009 August Vollmer Excellence in Forensic Science Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for outstanding achievements on behalf of the law enforcement profession.
The award honors the name of August Vollmer (1876-1955), recognized as the "father of modern law enforcement." He was the first police chief to create a motorized force, placing officers on motorcycles and in cars so that they could patrol a broader area with greater efficiency using two-way radios.
He was also the first to use the lie detector, developed at the University of California, in police work. Vollmer supported programs to assist disadvantaged children, and was often criticized for his leniency towards petty offenders such as drunks and loiterers. He also encouraged the training and employment of female and African American police officers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Program also recognized HPD’s Firearms Section as its “Hit of the Week” for May 11, 2009.
This is the 16th time that HPD’s Firearms Section has received the ATF’s weekly recognition.
Since 1999, the HPD Crime Lab has linked approximately 1800 criminal investigations based on the positive match of firearms and fired evidence such as bullets and cartridge cases.
Currently, HPD has recorded more than 875 matches or “hits” using IBIS -- or Integrated Ballistics Identification System -- an image analysis system used by law enforcement for acquiring, storing and analyzing the images of bullets and cartridge cases.
The system captures images of bullet striations and of the markings left on cartridge cases that are produced when a cartridge is discharged in a firearm. These images are used to produce an electronic signature that is stored in a database.
The system allows police agencies worldwide to compare this unique signature to that of another fired bullet or cartridge case or to an entire database of fired bullets and cartridge cases in order to determine whether or not a specific firearm has been used in the commission of a previous crime.
This has revolutionized the way ballistic evidence is processed in forensic laboratories.
The HPD Crime Lab’s most recent recognition by ATF involved two incidents from the Houston area:
In December 2008, a suspect robbed a resident of the Briar Creek Apartment complex in West Houston at gunpoint and wounded the victim three times. The suspect ran away and the victim later recovered from his wounds.
Four spent .45 caliber cartridge cases were recovered from that crime scene and forwarded to the HPD Crime Lab, where they were entered into the IBIS database.
Then, 46 days later, in January 2009, two suspects robbed the Wing Zone Restaurant on West FM1960 in Harris County. The owner of the restaurant was shot and killed. And from that crime scene, one .45 caliber shell casing was recovered.
Through investigative efforts by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, it was learned that an ex-employee of that restaurant was the getaway driver. That suspect revealed that the pistol used in that robbery was tossed into tall grass near the crime scene. Harris County Deputies recovered the pistol and obtained the bullet from the murder victim’s body. Further investigation identified the other two suspects.
The Harris County Firearms Lab was able to verify that the recovered pistol was indeed the murder weapon.
Subsequently, an HPD firearm examiner worked with a Harris County firearm examiner to confirm an IBIS hit that resulted in a match between the shell casing in that murder investigation and the cartridge cases recovered by HPD in the earlier aggravated robbery case. The victim in that case was able to positively identify one of the suspects in the murder case.
All three suspects are in custody, awaiting trial for capital murder.
This case underscores HPD’s strong commitment to work with other law enforcement agencies to solve violent crime and make our communities safer.
###
The award honors the name of August Vollmer (1876-1955), recognized as the "father of modern law enforcement." He was the first police chief to create a motorized force, placing officers on motorcycles and in cars so that they could patrol a broader area with greater efficiency using two-way radios.
He was also the first to use the lie detector, developed at the University of California, in police work. Vollmer supported programs to assist disadvantaged children, and was often criticized for his leniency towards petty offenders such as drunks and loiterers. He also encouraged the training and employment of female and African American police officers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Program also recognized HPD’s Firearms Section as its “Hit of the Week” for May 11, 2009.
This is the 16th time that HPD’s Firearms Section has received the ATF’s weekly recognition.
Since 1999, the HPD Crime Lab has linked approximately 1800 criminal investigations based on the positive match of firearms and fired evidence such as bullets and cartridge cases.
Currently, HPD has recorded more than 875 matches or “hits” using IBIS -- or Integrated Ballistics Identification System -- an image analysis system used by law enforcement for acquiring, storing and analyzing the images of bullets and cartridge cases.
The system captures images of bullet striations and of the markings left on cartridge cases that are produced when a cartridge is discharged in a firearm. These images are used to produce an electronic signature that is stored in a database.
The system allows police agencies worldwide to compare this unique signature to that of another fired bullet or cartridge case or to an entire database of fired bullets and cartridge cases in order to determine whether or not a specific firearm has been used in the commission of a previous crime.
This has revolutionized the way ballistic evidence is processed in forensic laboratories.
The HPD Crime Lab’s most recent recognition by ATF involved two incidents from the Houston area:
In December 2008, a suspect robbed a resident of the Briar Creek Apartment complex in West Houston at gunpoint and wounded the victim three times. The suspect ran away and the victim later recovered from his wounds.
Four spent .45 caliber cartridge cases were recovered from that crime scene and forwarded to the HPD Crime Lab, where they were entered into the IBIS database.
Then, 46 days later, in January 2009, two suspects robbed the Wing Zone Restaurant on West FM1960 in Harris County. The owner of the restaurant was shot and killed. And from that crime scene, one .45 caliber shell casing was recovered.
Through investigative efforts by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, it was learned that an ex-employee of that restaurant was the getaway driver. That suspect revealed that the pistol used in that robbery was tossed into tall grass near the crime scene. Harris County Deputies recovered the pistol and obtained the bullet from the murder victim’s body. Further investigation identified the other two suspects.
The Harris County Firearms Lab was able to verify that the recovered pistol was indeed the murder weapon.
Subsequently, an HPD firearm examiner worked with a Harris County firearm examiner to confirm an IBIS hit that resulted in a match between the shell casing in that murder investigation and the cartridge cases recovered by HPD in the earlier aggravated robbery case. The victim in that case was able to positively identify one of the suspects in the murder case.
All three suspects are in custody, awaiting trial for capital murder.
This case underscores HPD’s strong commitment to work with other law enforcement agencies to solve violent crime and make our communities safer.
###
Monday, April 20, 2009
TOWN HALL MEETING – MONTROSE
A town hall meeting is scheduled Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. to address concerns of Montrose-area residents. Councilmember Wanda Adams is organizing the event.
I, and other Houston police officers, will be present to discuss crime issues affecting the area, to hear concerns from the community, and to discuss ways in which residents can help prevent crime.
The meeting will be held at Wharton Elementary, 900 West Gray.
I, and other Houston police officers, will be present to discuss crime issues affecting the area, to hear concerns from the community, and to discuss ways in which residents can help prevent crime.
The meeting will be held at Wharton Elementary, 900 West Gray.
What are YOU doing to Keep Houston Safe?ddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
