Mayor Sylvester Turner’s ‘One Safe Houston’ initiative and the hard work of the Houston Police Department continues to make a significant impact in reducing crime across the City of Houston.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner went before city councilmembers Wednesday (Oct. 18) to share preliminary data that shows the city’s murder rate is down more than 17 percent compared to last year. Robbery, aggravated assault, and human trafficking also saw a significant double-digit decrease in percentage. The numbers show a slight increase of 1.8 percent in reported rape incidents.
Among non-violent crime categories, only auto theft has witnessed an increase, 15.10 percent, in reported cases, partly due to the theft of firearms from vehicles. In 2023, approximately 3,000 firearms have been reported stolen from vehicles.
“Too many guns in the wrong hands in our city,” said Chief Finner. “We can’t keep putting guns in the hands of criminals in our city,” Finner added.
HPD, in conjunction with the Harris County District Attorney’s office and elected leaders, continues to distribute free gun lock boxes at community meetings. The department also proactively shares gun safety tips on social media and news media.
Chief Finner also highlighted the positive impact of the update pursuit policy in the first month. The department is reporting 40 percent fewer pursuits, 35 percent fewer collisions and 35 percent more pursuit terminations.
“Individuals commit crimes in those vehicles,” Chief Finner said. We can’t just abandon pursuits, but we are working smarter. We are bringing more management to those pursuits,” he added.
To complement HPD’s effort to combat crime, Mayor Sylvester Turner has also prioritized hiring more officers. By the end of the Mayor’s 8-year term, HPD will have added approximately 2,500 cadets to the force.
“I’m very proud. This is my city, this is our city and I love it,” Chief Finner concluded.
SOA/ABH 10-18-23