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Mayor John Whitmire and acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite announced 100 officers across 15 agencies will arrive in Houston Thursday evening to help patrol and relieve Houston police who’ve been on 12-hour shifts since Tuesday.
The officers are being sent from agencies all over Texas. The partnering agencies will have their officers in town through Sunday with the possibility of extending their stay, Satterwhite said.
The state is covering the costs to bring the officers as Houston recovers from the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, Satterwhite said.
While there hasn’t been an influx of crime, Satterwhite said there has been a spike in traffic crashes throughout the city due to a lack of lighting at night. Whitmire said there currently are 1,400 traffic lights out across the city.
Satterwhite also emphasized that there are individuals who are willing to take advantage of the situation the city is in. He referenced the death of Fernando Esqueda, a deputy who was shot and killed Wednesday night.
“We want to send a message to the criminal element that will try to take advantage that we are out there, and we will hold you accountable. And we will put your picture up.” Satterwhite said.
The acting chief said HPD does not anticipate needing the additional officers past Sunday night. His communications with Centerpoint have made him hopeful that enough of the city’s traffic and street lights will be operating to light the city up enough for their services not to be needed. There is the possibility that their aid will need to be extended into Monday depending on progress.
Each of these partner officers will be accompanied by an HPD officer while on patrols.
Satterwhite also defended the decision to fully mobilize on Tuesday instead of Monday citing changing weather reports. But said the force was “posturing” for a full mobilization as the storm approached.
“We do need better weather models. I’m not going to criticize anybody. I’m just going to say I am looking forward to better technologies in the future that can be better at predicting where these things are coming, so that we can plan and respond in the best way possible. “
Whitmire also assured residents that along with public safety, getting the city power is also one of his? main priorities. He said he and his team are doing everything they can to get CenterPoint to “do a better job.”
“I don't know what everyone was doing this morning at 7 a.m. I was talking to the CEO of CenterPoint letting him know they must do better. They must communicate better. So, yes, we're going to hold CenterPoint accountable.”
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