This article originally appeared as an Op Ed in the Houston Chronicle There’s an unjustifiable project afoot in the city that’s somewhat of a solution in search of a problem. The alleged problem: congestion on Post Oak Boulevard near the Galleria. I’m not saying there is no traffic congestion in the area. Any weekday at…
This article originally appeared in the Houston Chronicle HPD Chief Charles McClelland struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk downtown on his way to work. Fortunately, the pedestrian only suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from St. Joseph Hospital, but the chief wasn’t ticketed. It’s obvious to anyone who has passed their driver’s license…
Chicago is undergoing a rash of gang violence. Democrat Mayor Rahm Emanuel, choose Garry McCarthy (formerly Chief of the Newark Police Department, formerly with the NYPD) to be his new Chief of Police. McCarthy in turn has turned to David Kennedy to help stymie gang violence in Chicago. Kennedy is a self-taught, public safety academic…
J.W. “JAY” WALL III and STAN BURTON Police matters An open letter to Parker: Start at the very beginning Every city, no matter what the size, has certain obligations it must meet before it spends money on nonessential things. As in any household, a family must pay for essentials like rent and food before splurging…
What does HPD truly need? It needs re-engineering from top to bottom, ultimately perhaps a wholesale change in leadership. When NYPD implemented CompStat, in its first year more than 75 percent of its precinct commanders retired, were demoted or were reassigned. You either got with the “crime control” (CompStat) program or you “got gone.” However,…
CRIME STOPPER The Big Apple’s innovative CompStat policing system took a big bit out of crime. It can happen here, too. ALAN HELFMAN, JAY WALL and WILLIAM A. WOLFF The time has come for Houston to adopt a fundamental change in policing similar to programs implemented in New York City and Boston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Baltimore,…
By ALAN HELFMAN, J.W. “JAY” WALL III and WILLIAM A. WOLFF Based on the 2005 FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), one can compare crime in Houston to New York City on a per capita basis: In the category of “Violent Crime,” you are: 2.28 times more likely to be murdered; 2.52 times more likely to…
