[Press Conference: “Mayor Whitmire with New HFD and HPD Chiefs”]
[00:00:18]
I'M VERY HONORED TO BE, UH, THE MAYOR, TO BE ABLE TO PUT A TEAM IN PLACE THAT, UH, MAKES PUBLIC SAFETY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY, IF WE'RE NOT SAFE, REALLY OTHER THINGS DOESN'T MATTER.
UH, I'VE GOT TWO VERY EXPERIENCED, DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS AND, UH, CHIEF MUNOZ AND THEN CHIEF DIAZ.
I'VE WORKED WITH THEM, SEEN 'EM IN ACTION.
THEY CARE ABOUT HOUSTON, THEY CARE ABOUT DIVERSITY, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
SO I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED.
I THINK HOUSTONIANS WILL GET TO KNOW THESE CHIEFS.
THEIR DEPARTMENT MORALE IS ALREADY IMPROVING 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE STABILITY.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE, UH, THE RANK AND FILE KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE 'EM AND PROTECT THEM.
WE'RE GONNA WORK TO GET THE BEST BENEFITS FOR THEIR RANK AND FILE AND CERTAINLY WORKING CONDITIONS.
I WAS SHOCKED DURING KINGWOOD FLOODS TO GO SEE WHAT'S OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
WERE LIVING IN A TRAILER WITH HOLES IN THE FLOOR WITH MOLD, AND, UH, WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE'RE A GREAT CITY WITH GREAT PEOPLE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR HPD, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT DURING THE STORM, AND WE'RE STILL UPSET ABOUT THAT.
HPD AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
SO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR CONTACTS OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, WHETHER IT'S THE EMERGENCY CENTER IN AUSTIN THAT WORKS WITH CHIEF MUNOZ FOR YEARS, HIS FEMA CONNECTIONS.
AND THEN YOU GET TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN TERMS OF, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I'VE WORKED WITH CHIEF DIAZ FOR 20 YEARS.
HIS COLLABORATION WITH HPD GANG, TASK FORCE, DRUG ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
HE'S ACTUALLY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AS A LEADER AMONG MEN AND WOMEN.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
AS YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE MATTERS.
I'VE EMPHASIZED THAT FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY ADMINISTRATION, MY COLLABORATION WITH OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS, OUR STATE AND COUNTY MATTERS.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'LL BE YIELD.
CHIEF, WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO GET YOU A MIC CHIEF, WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST A HUNDRED DAYS LOOK LIKE NOW THAT YOU'VE OFFICIALLY ARRIVED ON THE JOB? WHICH ONES HE TALKING TO? OH, WHICH ONE? FIRE OR, UH, UH, POLICE CHIEF.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, WE'RE IN A VERY UNIQUE TIME IN HOUSTON.
UH, NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE BEEN A MAYOR THAT HAS OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, UH, WALKS THE WALK, TALKS THE TALK.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO.
MY FIRST A HUNDRED DAYS IS ASSESSING EVERYTHING AT THE OFFICE, UH, COLLABORATIVELY WITH, WITH MY COMMAND STAFF, UH, WORK THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE OFFICE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THE VERY BEST PRODUCT, UH, ON THE STREET TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UH, NO POLICE OFFICER WILL LACK ANY RESOURCES.
THEY'LL HAVE THE VERY BEST RESOURCES BECAUSE, UH, THEY DESERVE IT.
RIGHT? UH, YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE POWER OUTAGES DURING, UH, HURRICANE BARREL.
THE POLICE SLEPT IN THEIR CARS.
THE POLICE WERE DOWNTOWN 24, 16 HOURS, EIGHT HOURS, NO BREAKS.
UH, AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO, RIGHT? SO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY APPARATUS HERE IS, UH, IN GOOD HANDS.
IT IS GONNA BE FUNCTIONAL TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT WHAT ARE SOME AREAS FOR SAVING? I KNOW IT HAD BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER.
YOU WERE GONNA BE LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET MAYOR, IN TERMS OF SAVINGS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES.
WE HAVE OTHER OVER 80 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE FIRST MONTH THAT I WAS IN OFFICE, CHIEF SATTERWHITE AT THE TIME BROUGHT THOSE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER.
IN FACT, UH, CHIEF DIAZ WAS THERE AS THE CHIEF OF
[00:05:01]
KATIE.YOU KNOW, CRIME DOESN'T KNOW BOUNDARIES.
THEY DON'T REPRESENT CITY BOUNDARIES OR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
CONGRESSIONAL ALLIANCE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, FLOOD CONTROL, OUR ENVIRONMENT, HARRIS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS GO HOW HOUSTON GOES.
AND, AND THEY'RE ALL REACHING OUT TO US TO NETWORK.
THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF HOUSTON, INCLUDING THE REGION.
SO LEMME JUST TELL YOU ANOTHER THING.
THROUGH COLLABORATION, THE CHIEF COMES OUT OF THE RANGERS, UH, DPS, WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HELICOPTERS IN THE AIR.
MOST DAYS THAT WOULD CUT DOWN ON THE DANGEROUS CHASES.
WE WILL SOON NETWORK AND DPS WILL LOAN AND GIVE US AIR COVERAGE.
I MEAN, I COULD JUST GO THROUGH AND AS HE POINTED OUT, FIRST OF ALL, IN MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER, I'VE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, BEEN WITH 'EM DURING THE GOOD DAYS, AND I'VE BEEN THERE IN THE BAD DAYS WHEN WE WERE BEARING A HERO.
SO, BEST PRACTICES WILL BE HERE.
PUBLIC INTEGRITY, A NO NONSENSE ATTITUDE.
WE WANT EVERYONE THAT, THAT CAN HIT THE STREETS.
WE'RE ALREADY GOT ADDITIONAL CARS LINED UP, COMING OUTTA AUSTIN RESOURCES, NOT ONLY AIR COVERAGE, BUT WE'VE GOT CARS SITTING OUT ON SOME OF OUR STATION LOTS THAT CAN OUTRUN THE BAD GUYS.
AND I'M THE FIRST MAYOR IN RECENT TIME TO TALK LIKE THIS.
YOU GOTTA IDENTIFY A PROBLEM BEFORE YOU CAN FIX IT.
WE'RE GONNA IDENTIFY IF WE HAVE SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO IT COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER AGENCIES, THE STATE, THE FED, AND CERTAINLY THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AS I STAND HERE AND TALK TO YOU, WHAT ABOUT THE MODEL THAT SAYS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL STARTS AT THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS.
I'M NOT SO SURE THAT WE CAN'T MAP OUT THINGS BETTER TO WHERE WE CAN COLLABORATE.
METRO POLICE HAS, METRO HAS 300 OFFICERS THAT WORK PRIMARILY ON METRO LINES.
WHAT IF THEY WORKED WITH HPD AND KIND OF GOT INTO THE COMMUNITY, MADE THE METRO LINES SAFER, MADE THE COMMUNITY SAFER, PUT HPD WORKING HAND IN HAND ON A DAILY BASIS WITH METRO POLICE.
I'M JUST HERE TO TELL YOU, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE.
24 YEARS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO THREE STATIONS WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT MEMORY.
THEY KNOW THE NEXT CALL MAY TAKE THEIR LIFE.
I WATCHED THEM IN THE KINGWOOD FLOOD.
THIS IS A GENTLEMAN THAT THEY WANT TO LEAD THEM.
HE KNOWS THEIR FAMILIES 24 YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT RECRUITING, YOU KNOW WHO OUR BEST RECRUITERS HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY.
THE RANK AND FILE, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRE OR POLICE, THEY GET THERE HISTORICALLY, BUT NOT IN RECENT YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIX.
THEY WOULD GET THEIR NEPHEWS, THEIR SONS TO JOIN THE DEPARTMENT.
I SPOKE TO A FIRE CADET CLASS IN APRIL.
31 CADETS, BARELY COULD GET 31 IN THERE.
THE RESPONSE TIME IS BEING IMPACTED.
LET'S TELL THE TRUTH TO HOUSTONIANS THAT WE NOT ONLY CAN DO BETTER, WE WILL DO BETTER.
BUT I'M EXCITED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'M INTRODUCING TODAY.
HEY, CHIEF, CHIEF DIAZ, PAUL COBBLER WITH THE HOUSTON LANDING.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.
YOU KNOW, TODAY AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT, THERE WAS SOME PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THERE WAS THIS ITEM DEBATED THAT WAS SENT TO COMMITTEE BY THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD BAN PROTESTORS FROM TARGETING SPECIFIC RESIDENCES.
THIS IS ALL COMING AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF PROTESTS BY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS AT MAYOR WHITMEYER HOUSE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, HPD IS A BIG PART IN RESPONDING TO THESE AND MONITORING THESE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BEST WAY IS TO HANDLE THESE PROTESTS THAT ARE TARGETING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE PROTESTERS, BUT ALSO THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE BEING TARGETED? FIRST, UH, I'M, WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE POLICY.
WHATEVER COUNCIL, UH, PASSES, WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW IT THROUGH THE LETTER.
UH, I AM NOT AGAINST THE PROTEST, BUT I THINK A DIFFERENT LOCATION WOULD BE A BETTER AUDIENCE FOR THEM THAN A SINGLE STREET.
SO WE WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE DURING THEIR PROTEST, BUT KNOW THAT WE WILL FOLLOW PROCEDURES, FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL, AND THEY'LL HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE EXISTING LAWS.
[00:10:01]
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS ITEM WOULD'VE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IF YOU HADN'T HAD IT GO TO THE COMMITTEE? IF THEY HAD JUST DONE A SIMPLE YES NO ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE PASSED, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT IT ON AN AGENDA IF I DID NOT, OR I HAD BEEN TOLD, HOW'S THAT, THAT A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUE.AND ACTUALLY, UH, THE VOTE COUNT, I THOUGHT WAS THERE.
WE HAD A LENGTHY HEARING YESTERDAY WHERE WE SAW THE PASSION, UNDERSTANDING MISLEADING STATEMENTS.
SO IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE TO SEND THAT TO COMMITTEE.
AND LET ME JUST EMPHASIZE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT JOHN WHITMEYER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME.
OKAY? IT'S PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANNA BE IDENTIFIED.
OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, OUR MOSQUE, OUR EMANS, THE RABBIS, OUR CHANCELLORS OF OUR GREAT INSTITUTIONS, THEY KNOW THAT IF YOU DO NOT WORK WITH THE PROTESTORS THAT WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU, IT CAN GET OUT OF HAND.
I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I'M AMAZED THAT THE PRESS HASN'T BEEN AT MY HOUSE AT NINE O'CLOCK MOST FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS TO WITNESS FOR THEMSELF.
THIS ORDINANCE WORKS IN DALLAS, IT'S BEEN IN PASADENA FOREVER.
ALL IT SAYS IS YOU CAN'T FOCUS YOUR PROTEST TOWARD THE RESIDENTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT TERRORIZES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M FINE, I'M FORTUNATE, AND I HAVE A SECURITY DETAIL, BUT IT COMPLETELY DISRUPTS THE PEACE AND CALM OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID, HAS A RIGHT OF THEIR OWN TO HAVE THE PEACEFUL EXISTENCE IN THEIR HOME.
SO NOBODY'S CUTTING DOWN PROTESTING.
I MEAN, I'VE PROTESTED IN CIVIL RIGHTS MARCHES, LGBTQ PLUS MARCHES, THE AFTERMATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.
ALL IT SAYS IS, USE SOME GOOD JUDGMENT.
DO NOT TARGET A NEIGHBORHOOD AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WITH DRUMS, BULLHORNS, LASER LIGHTS, FLASHLIGHTS.
THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PEACEFUL EXISTENCE.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH ANYBODY'S PROTEST.
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN COME ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO.
AND ACTUALLY THEY COULD PROTEST IN THE RESIDENCE IF THEY DO IT PROPERLY, LIKE KEEP MOVING.
AND THE ADDRESS, IT MOVED THEM 200 FEET FROM THE PRIMARY PERSON THEY'RE PROTESTING IN THE, IN THE DISCUSSION.
I TAKE ALL THIS VERY SERIOUSLY THAT IT WOULD ONLY MOVE DOWN TO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
THEY'RE NOT PROTESTING THE HOUSE.
THEY'RE PROTESTING THE PRINCIPAL PERSON THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
I LEFT SATURDAY MORNING AT NINE O'CLOCK TO GO PICK UP DEBRIS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON.
THEY WERE PROTESTING FOR 30 MINUTES.
SO WE HAVE RABBIS, WE HAVE IMAN'S, I CAN GO ON AND ON.
MANY DO NOT WANNA BE IDENTIFIED OR CONCERNED, AND THAT'S WHY DALLAS HAS IT.
AND IT'S A, UH, EFFORT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PROTECT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AT ALL COSTS, BUT ALSO HAVE THE RESPECT FOR THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE PROTESTING IN.
SO MAYOR, YOU JUST TOLD US, I LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS.
THIS WAS BROUGHT TO ME THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS SWORN IN BY PUBLIC SAFETY AND STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I INHERITED THE DISCUSSION AFTER OCTOBER 7TH, AND IT'S BECOME MORE INTENSE.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER FOR THE RECORD, THEY BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL, THE ISSUE OF GAZA, WHICH IS A TRAGEDY FOR EVERYONE.
THEY BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL, THE FIRST AND SECOND WEEK OF MY ADMINISTRATION SIGNS PROTESTS.
BUT WHEN I DECLARED THAT I WASN'T GONNA GET INVOLVED AS THE MAYOR IN INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, THAT'S WHEN THE DIRECTION TURNED TOWARD ME.
I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE 50 PLUS YEARS.
BUT ALSO MY SERVANT IN OFFICE SHOULDN'T ON 11 O'CLOCK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT COMPLETELY DISRUPT A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY.
THE SUPREME COURT AGREES WITH ME.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF THIS MAKES IT OUT OF COMMITTEE, IT WOULD BE USING THE PUBLIC EMERGENCY CLAUSE TO GO INTO EFFECT FASTER.
UM, TODAY WE HEARD SOME FEEL LIKE THIS IS A CASE OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS MAYBE MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR THEMSELVES.
TELL US WHY YOU FEEL THIS IS A PUBLIC EMERGENCY.
THAT AND ALL RESPECT, BUT YOU JUST HEAR WHAT I SAID I DID.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR ENCAMPMENT AT U OF H, THE CONCERN WAS THEN FOR THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, A PROFESSOR THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH.
AND YOU KEEP REPEATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS,
[00:15:01]
WE SIGN ON.DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE GONE THROUGH IN 50 PLUS YEARS, STARTING AT 22 YEARS OF AGE AND NOW ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
I'VE BEEN TO ALL TYPES OF PROTESTS INVOLVED IN PROTESTS AS A PROTESTER.
I'M NOT GONNA PREJUDGE WHAT THIS FINE GROUP OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL PRODUCE.
I WILL SAY THIS, WE MODELED IT AFTER DALLAS, BUT IN MY 50 YEARS IN LEGISLATURE, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT COULDN'T BE IMPROVED.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
I WISH YOU WOULD HELP ME LET THE PUBLIC AND FOLKS KNOW THEY CAN COME TESTIFY IN A COMMITTEE.
NOW, BEFORE I GOT HERE, A COMMITTEE WAS JUST KIND OF REPORT FROM A DEPARTMENT HEAD TO THE COUNCIL.
I'M TRYING TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC PROS AND CONS STAKEHOLDERS AND IT'LL BE A BETTER SYSTEM.
MAYOR, YOU INDICATED THAT THE PROTESTORS OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME ARE BEING PAID AND THAT YOU KNOW BY WHO, WHO, WHO'S PAYING THEM.
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF ARTICLES RECENTLY, UH, THAT SOME, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, SOME ARE SO COMPLIANT IN TERMS OF RESPECTING PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE PEACE AND THE RIGHT TO YOUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY COOPERATE SOME FRIDAY NIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK.
IT'LL BE SOME OF THE SAME ACTIVISTS THAT WERE THERE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT AND ACTUALLY SATURDAY MORNING AND THAT WERE AT COUNCIL YESTERDAY.
THERE IS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH IT IN PUBLIC, THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID BY IRAN, BEEN TWO ARTICLES IN THE CHRONICLE.
I'M NOT, I'M JUST GOING BY THE ADVICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SOME HIGHER THAN CITY GOVERNMENT, THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION TO IRAN.
AND I THINK I HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF HOUSTON, NOT JOHN WHITMORE'S NEIGHBOR.
AND I KNOW THE RISK PUBLIC OFFICE PLACES ME TO, I'VE BEEN BLESSED AND I HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PROTECTION IN AMERICA, BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR EVERYONE.
IT'S A LARGE CITY, VERY DIVERSE.
IT MAY BE THE NAACP NEXT TIME JAMES DIXON, THEIR PRESIDENT DIRECTOR, MAY BE HIS RESIDENCE.
AND HE DOESN'T MIND MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VERY PRODUCTIVE COMMITTEE HEARING TO SEE EQUALITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S OFFICIALS IN LGBTQ PLUS THAT MIGHT BE CONCERNED DURING EMOTIONAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR RIGHTS TOO.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S UH, IT'S BEEN MISREPRESENTED BY MY POLITICAL ENEMIES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT AIN'T GONNA LIKE NOTHING.
THEY ALREADY GOT THEIR BILLBOARDS UP.
BUT THERE'S A TIME TO CAMPAIGN AND THERE'S A TIME TO WORK AND BE FAIR, REASONABLE, AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR POLITICS RIGHT NOW.
POLI POLITICS ASIDE, MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE MY JOB AS A GOOD JOURNALIST.
I SPEAK TO YOU, I SPEAK TO THE PROTESTORS AS WELL.
AND I'VE, I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF THEM AND ALL OF THEM HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT PAID BY ANYBODY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO TELL YOU.
I I WOULDN'T EXPECT YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
WOULDN'T EXPECT 'EM TO TELL THE TRUTH.
BUT I I'M, I'M UNSURE ABOUT THESE ARTICLES.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, I I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AT THIS AS LONG AS I HAVE.
BUT WHAT'D YOU EXPECT 'EM TO TELL YOU? YOU, YOU WANT TO, YEAH, I DEPEND ON INTELLIGENCE.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU, MAYOR, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT THESE PROTESTORS ARE PAID, I MEAN THIS IS, THIS IS RHETORIC.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S CALM IF YOU THAT RHETORIC.
AND CERTAINLY I'VE ALREADY JUSTIFIED SOME OF 'EM BEING VERY LEGITIMATE, PASSIONATE PEOPLE THAT ON SOME GIVEN DAY I WOULD STAND WITH THEM.
THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL PROTESTORS THAT GO TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
INTELLIGENCE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.
AND LEMME TELL YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK I WENT LOOKING FOR THIS ISSUE? I WAS BRIEFED THE NIGHT I WAS SWORN IN IN JANUARY ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY.
JOHN WHITMEYER WAS JUST LEARNING ABOUT IT.
EMOTIONS WERE HIGH DUE TO THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7TH.
AND YOU WERE PROBABLY THERE WHEN THEY WOULD COME TO CITY HALL AND TRY TO GET ME TO GET OFF A DEBRIS PICKUP AND GARBAGE AND STREETS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND GET INVOLVED IN AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, THE PRESIDENT AND THE US GOVERNMENT STRUGGLING WITH WHAT IS THE BEST POLICY.
[00:20:02]
AND IF YOU WANNA SEE SOMETHING, SEE SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT GO TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.THERE IS A PIECE OF THAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MAKING A FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING STOP AT MY HOUSE JULY 4TH.
THEY WOULDN'T LET US OUT IN MY DRIVEWAY.
I GOTTA GET TO KINGWOOD FOR A JULY 4TH EVENT.
NOW, SOME WOULD SAY DISTURBING A PEACE, A SOUND ORDINANCE.
THE TOOL THAT WAS PROPOSED IS WORKING IN DALLAS, VERY SIMILAR TO THIS CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE, BUT IT'S REALLY PRETTY PLAIN.
WE'RE PROTECTING ALL HOUSTONIANS STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE CONCERNED IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY'RE PAID.
DON'T, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MORE RESPONSIBLE TO SAY, WELL, THEY SAY NO, WELL GO TALK TO
IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF SPECULATION ON YOUR PART ABOUT WHAT ITT SPECULATION.
I DON'T TALK TO LOOSELY WORDS MATTER.
I GET IT FROM INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHO I'LL LISTEN TO GOING FORWARD.
I THINK WE'VE COVERED THAT PRETTY THOROUGHLY.
ANOTHER QUESTION FOR CHIEF DIAZ THEN, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MAYORS TALKED ABOUT HOTSPOTS.
HE'S TALKED ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES.
THE DEPARTMENT'S ALSO COMING OFF OF A SCANDAL THAT I THINK BOILS DOWN TO A LACK OF RESOURCES IN THE INVESTIGATIVE SIDE.
I MEAN, GIVEN THAT LACK OF RESOURCES, HOW DO YOU SORT OF BALANCE THOSE DIFFERING NEEDS AND DEMANDS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? MATTHEW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE'LL WORK, UM, COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING POLICE RESOURCES IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY PROFESSIONALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES KNOW WHO'S DOING THE CRIME, WHO'S CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. SO WE'LL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR PARTNERS, STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THE VERY BEST PRODUCT INTO THE COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY CRIME FIGHTING.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE THREE PHENOMENAL CADET CLASSES, ONE GRADUATES TOMORROW, AND THEY ARE SO EAGER TO COME AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING WITH THEM, TO DEVELOP THEM INTO, UH, FANTASTIC POLICE OFFICERS TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE WHAT WE PUT AT, AS THE END USER KNOWS, PATROL CARS NEEDS TO, UH, HAVE, IT HAS POLICE POWER, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE POLICE POWER TO BE KIND, POLICE POWER TO BE FRIENDLY, POLICE POWER TO HELP THE LITTLE GUY WHEN HE NEEDS TO GET UP, RIGHT? SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS OBVIOUSLY SOME RETENTION.
SOME OF THE, THE, THE, THE OLDER STAFF IS STAYING BECAUSE THEY'RE EXCITED.
IT'S A NEW DAY AT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THEY'LL STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG CADETS AND YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS COMING IN.
THE MAYOR WAS, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT SIXTH CADET CLASS.
AND, UH, I'M TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE NOW.
IF YOU HAVEN'T APPLIED, PLEASE, PLEASE APPLY.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE, WE'LL BE STAFFED.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UH, WE HEARD FROM THE POLICE SIDE.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO KIND OF ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES OF, UH, WHAT YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO TACKLE, AND WHETHER THAT'S A HUNDRED DAYS OR A YEAR IN YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR THIS NEW ERA, FOR THIS POINT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MORALE, RIGHT? ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS RIGHT NOW, MY A HUNDRED YEAR PLAN IS GETTING, FIRST OF ALL, KNOWING THAT WE GOT THEM.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE'VE GONE TO FIRE STATIONS NOW.
UM, THE COMMAND STAFF THAT WE HAVE IS FROM WITHIN.
AND IT'S JUST KNOWING THAT THE VERY BASIC FOUNDATION OF TAKING CARE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, UM, IS THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR US.
MOVING FORWARD, GETTING THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE HAVE, THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED KINGWOOD, THE, THE CONDITIONS AND SOME OF THE FIRE STATIONS, WALKING THOSE INTO THOSE FIRE STATIONS, WE'RE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE.
OUR PLAN NOW INCLUDES WORKING WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
GREAT COLLABORATION WITH THEM, WITH PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL, TO IDENTIFY THOSE FIRE STATIONS THAT ARE IN IMMEDIATE REPAIR.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS.
KINGWOOD, THE MAYOR MENTIONED KINGWOOD.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE LIVING QUARTERS THAT ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON BY SEPTEMBER.
SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE RESOURCES, IDENTIFYING THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, HAVING THOSE STRATEGIC PLANS IN THE GAP ANALYSIS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
[00:25:01]
SURE THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE SUPPORTED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.CHIEF DIAZ MENTIONED RECRUITING.
THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT CONTINUOUSLY WE ARE THE BEST RECRUITERS.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG GOALS IS TO CHANGE THAT AROUND, TO GIVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE PRIDE THAT IT HAS AND IT NEEDS.
SO PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO WORK, COME WORK FOR US IN MY TWO WEEKS AND THROUGH THE COMMAND STAFF.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD 15 PEOPLE REACH OUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE TOO.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE BRINGING BACK THE DEPARTMENT THAT PEOPLE WANNA BE A PART OF.
I SAY WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION.
PEOPLE WANNA WORK FOR WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR.
SO IN OUR A HUNDRED YEAR PLAN IS GETTING A STRATEGIC PLAN TOGETHER, DOING THE GAP ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE ALREADY KNOW IT EXISTED.
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB, MAYOR SAID, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
WE STARTED LOOKING AT THAT, LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
I, I APPRECIATE A HUNDRED YEAR PLAN, BUT WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO SHORTENED A LITTLE IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO.
THAT'S A, I SAY HUNDRED, YOUR PLAN.
EVERYBODY KNEW THAT EVERY DAY PLAN.
LISTEN, YOU WON'T FIND TWO BETTER QUALIFIED EXPERIENCE FIRE CHIEFS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS IN AMERICA.