[METRO Police Chief Swearing-in Ceremony]
[00:00:17]
OBVIOUSLY BY THE DISPLAY OF SUPPORT AND LOVE THAT IS HERE TODAY ON THIS VERY SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT DAY.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF RECOGNIZING SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHED HUMAN BEING.
I URGE YOU TO RESEARCH AND SHARE HIS STATUS AS ONE OF OUR TOP CRIME FIGHTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, ONE OF OUR TOP ADMINISTRATORS, FAMILY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND SOMEONE ELSE IS GONNA GET THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING THIS SPECIAL HUMAN BEING.
BUT TODAY, UH, THIS IS SPECIAL FOR HOUSTON.
ALL HOUSTONIANS RECOGNIZE WHY WE'RE COMING TOGETHER TODAY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY.
TAKE A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE COLLABORATION THAT I'VE CALLED FOR BETWEEN ALL OF OUR AGENCIES, CERTAINLY TODAY DISPLAYING THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN METRO POLICE AND HPD.
BUT FIRST, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I WOULD ASK THE COLOR GUARD TO PLEASE PRESENT THE COLORS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE? FOUR MARCH DETAIL, HALT LEFT FACE, ALL OFFICERS IN COLORS PRESENT OR CARRIE, WILL YOU AND CONNOR COME UP THE CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN 10 AND CHIEF 10? I KINDA SPRUNG IT ON 'EM UPSTAIRS SO I CAN UNDERSTAND.
WOULD Y'ALL HELP ME WITH THE PLEDGE CROSS? YOUR HONOR, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
YEAH, GO AHEAD AND PUT YOUR MONEY IN RIGHT FAITH FOR MARCH.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD ASK PASTOR PRESTON, A METRO BOARD MEMBER FOR LEAD US IN PRAYER.
I HOPE YOU'LL KEEP IN YOUR PRAYER.
THE FIRST RESPONDER, A HERO, FIREFIGHTER MARCELO GARCIA THAT FACED A TRAGIC DEATH.
WE CELEBRATED HIS LIFE WEDNESDAY.
AND UH, PASTOR PRESTON, IF YOU WILL JOIN ME IN PRAYER BY BOWING ETERNAL GOD, WE BOW BEFORE YOU TODAY IN HUMBLE SUBMISSION, WITH GRATITUDE FOR YOUR BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON OUR CITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR CHAIR OF THE METRO, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GREAT CITIZENS OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION, WE ASK, DEAR GOD, THAT YOU WILL INVOKE YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS SOLEMN CEREMONY.
WE ASK THAT YOUR BLESSINGS WILL BE UPON CHIEF BEN 10 AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY FOR THE WORK THAT IS BEFORE HIM TO DO.
[00:05:01]
WE ASK FOR WISDOM.AND MOREOVER, DEAR GOD, WE ASK FOR YOUR SAFETY AND PROTECTION.
WE PRAY THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE BEFORE US IN THE FUTURE WILL BE GREATER THAN THE THINGS IN THE PAST, AND THAT YOU WILL BLESS US ALL TO VICTORY.
AS I SAID MOMENTS AGO, THIS IS SPECIAL DAY FOR HOUSTONIANS, SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AS MAYOR TO DELIVER ON A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.
ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN FOR MAYOR TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND DURING THE CAMPAIGN I TALKED ABOUT WHY WE DO AN AGGRESSIVE RECRUITMENT AT HPD.
IF WE JUST COLLABORATE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS ON DISPLAY TODAY, OTHER AGENCIES, CONSTABLES, DPS, THE AGENCIES ACROSS OUR REGION, IF WE JUST COLLABORATE AND SHARE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND EQUIPMENT RESOURCES, MEN AND WOMEN, WE COULD RAPIDLY IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
I ACTUALLY DISCUSSED MERGING METRO AND HPDA VISION I'VE HAD FOR YEARS AS CHAIRMAN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
HOW WE GET A FORCE MULTIPLIER THIS SPRING.
WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY THE FIRST 10 MONTHS WITH STORMS, SUSPENDED CASES AT HPD 260,000.
THAT CHIEF 10 THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF NER LED IN THAT EFFORT.
AND IT'S COMPLETE EXCEPT FOR SOME PROPERTY CRIMES THAT STILL REMAIN TO OPEN, BUT CERTAINLY 1 0 1 CRIMES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAPE, MURDER HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, REFERRED TO THE PROSECUTION.
SO WE'VE DONE SOME REALLY SPECIAL THINGS, AGGRESSIVE THINGS IN THESE FIRST 10 MONTHS.
BUT THE NOTION OF MERGING METRO AND POLICE OF FORCE MULTIPLIER, ALMOST 300 OFFICERS THAT WOULD BE UNDER DIRECTION OF HPD, THE COLLABORATION, WE'VE COME UP EVEN WITH A BETTER, QUICKER VERSION OF TAKING SOMEONE THAT'S THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF CHIEF AT HPD, THE ONE THAT CHIEF FINNER ALWAYS ASSURED ME WHEN HE WAS OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS, HE LEFT IT WITH CHIEF 10 AND WE WOULDN'T MISS ANYTHING.
THEN CHIEF SATTERWHITE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS MARVELOUS LEADER OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT THE METRO BOARD HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT WE CAN RAPIDLY BRING THE COLLABORATION, THE PARTNERSHIP.
MY VISION WOULD BE THAT THEY WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S THE REASON I RAN, NOT ONLY LOOKING AT DATA AND NUMBERS, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE.
WE HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED OUR MISSION UNTIL WE IMPROVE PEOPLE'S SECURITY.
PEOPLE STOPPED ME IN THE HEIGHTS DURING THE CAMPAIGN AT YALE STREET PHARMACY GRILL AND SAY, SENATOR, YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
SENIORS DO NOT FEEL SAFE AFTER DARK.
GREAT CITIES LIKE OURS DO NOT LIVE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.
YOUNG FAMILIES TELL ME THEY DON'T GO TO THE PARKS IN THE EVENING BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN THE COLLABORATION.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE.
THEN WE'RE GONNA CERTAINLY ALLOW COLLABORATE WITH THE CONSTABLES CHIEF ROSEN, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL DURING THE CAMPAIGN WAS WHITMEYER WANTS TO BRING THE DPS TO HOUSTON.
WE NEED THEIR HELICOPTERS FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CUT DOWN ON THE CHASES.
IF WE CAN GET A BURDEN TO AIR, I COULD GO ON AND ON THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR FORENSICS.
SO YES, WE'RE GONNA PARTNER, YOU WILL BE SEEING DPS WORKING CLOSELY WITH METRO, BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE PROPER LEADERSHIP.
THE PERSON IN CHARGE, IT STARTS AT THE TOP.
[00:10:01]
SO HAVING WORKED WITH CHIEF 10 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF NER, CHIEF SATTERWHITE THROUGH THE STORMS, THE ICE ICY CONDITIONS, HE'S THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME.SO I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND OF COURSE, I ALSO CAMPAIGNED ON MACON CITY HALL LOOK LIKE HOUSTON.
AND HE WAS NOT CHOSEN BECAUSE OF HIS CHINESE ETHNICITY.
BUT HE IS A PROUD IMMIGRANT WITH A WIFE FROM VIETNAM, HIS MOTHER, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS COUNTRY AND BRINGING OUR NEXT METRO POLICE CHIEF WITH YOU.
SHE RECENTLY BROKE HER KNEE, BUT WANTED TO BE HERE AND WE'RE HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATOR, CHIEF FIX, AND BECOME SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MAKING METRO SUCCESSFUL.
METRO WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL UNTIL WE MAKE IT SAFE AND CLEAN.
I RECENTLY HEARD FROM A PERSON IN MIDTOWN.
THE YOUNG NURSE SAID, I MOVED TO MIDTOWN SO I COULD GO GET ON THE TRAIN TOM AND WORK IN THE MED CENTER.
BUT NOW SHE SAYS, I DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING TO THE TRAIN FROM MIDTOWN.
GREAT COMMUNITIES, GREAT CITIES DO NOT LIVE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE'RE GONNA BRING THEM TO AN END.
LET ME, UH, ASK CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WHO IS A PERSONAL CLOSE FRIEND, CHIEF 10 TO COME.
LET ME YIELD SOME OF MY TIME AND CHIEF FINNER.
NOW, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THESE TWO GENTLEMEN AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY, THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THEY HAVE MADE ME A BETTER MAYOR BECAUSE OF THE CHOICES I'VE MADE.
BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE TOLD ME I CAN'T GO WRONG WITH CHIEF TENT AND I'M GONNA YELL AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE DO THE OATH.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WOULD YOU CERTAINLY SHARE US YOUR WORDS.
SO THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ME, UM, UH, TO INTRODUCE, UH, ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES.
I COULD GO ON WITH EVERY ADJECTIVE IN THE BOOK ABOUT HOW TO COMPLIMENT A MAN.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS, YEARS AND YEARS, AND WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
AND UH, I, I SAW IT FROM THE GET GO FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I WAS LIKE, MAN, THIS GUY IS SPECIAL.
I MEAN, HE IS SO GOOD, UM, IN THE FIELD, JUST, YOU JUST CAN'T FIND A BETTER MAN TO BE OUT THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE BAND.
UH, 'CAUSE HE IS ALWAYS BEEN A DEDICATED SERVANT, A PUBLIC SERVANT.
HE'S ALWAYS CARED ABOUT TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.
AND UH, BEFORE HE WAS A POLICEMAN, HE WAS A SOLDIER.
HE WAS IN THE ARMY AND HE SERVED, UH, OVERSEAS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
AND HE'S TOLD ME STORIES ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MEN AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, UH, YOU KNOW, AND AND THE TRAGEDY AND THE CHALLENGE.
BUT HE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR 'EM, ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, ALWAYS TRYING TO PROTECT THEM IS EXACTLY NONE OF THAT CHANGED.
WHEN HE CAME ON THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE CAME ON IN 97.
HE STARTED, UH, WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE WAS OUT THERE AND, AND HE WAS OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE WORK.
HE WAS A COPS COP FROM START TO FINISH.
THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST FOR THOSE OF YOU, UH, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDER.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HUGE, THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS ASPIRE TO BE, IS TO BE A GUY THAT EVERYBODY WANTS IN THE FIELD.
HE DID WAIVER A LITTLE BIT, UH, WHEN HE JOINED THE DEA.
UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE.
BUT HE CAME TO A CENSUS PRETTY QUICKLY AND HE CAME BACK AND HE WENT BACK TO WORK AND, YOU KNOW, HE WENT BACK AS AN OFFICER AND HE WENT BACK TO WORK AND HE STARTED FIGHTING AGAIN, TRYING TO HELP EVERYBODY, TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WORKING HIS WAY ALL THE WAY UP.
UH, WE HAVE FACED HURRICANES TOGETHER.
WE HAVE FACED CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.
AND I'M SURE THAT MY, THAT CHIEF NER WILL PROBABLY SAY A FEW OF THOSE THINGS TOO, BECAUSE HE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH US.
WE HAVE FACED, UH, MAJOR EVENTS AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING, METRO, YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL NEVER FIND A BETTER LOGISTICS MAN THAN MAN 10.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE RELIED ON HIM.
HE WAS ON TOP OF PLANNING AND COORDINATION.
UH, I MEAN, AND, AND WE'RE GONNA NEED HIS HELP.
I MEAN, HE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NEED HIS HELP AND WE'RE VERY PART GLAD TO HAVE HIM, UH, AS A PARTNER, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TRY TO PROTECT THE CITY AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.
[00:15:01]
GOOD.I MEAN, HE IS CRITICAL TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH TIME I'M SURE FOR HPD, UH, LOSING HIM.
UM, WHEN I LEFT, I MISSED HIM.
AND, AND NOW HE'S LEAVING HPD, BUT NOW HE IS GOING OVER TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AND, AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN, ALL WE CAN HOPE FOR.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I'D NOT TALK ABOUT BAND'S FAMILY AND SOME OF THE PERSONAL THINGS I KNOW AND BAND.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE JOY AND THE HONOR TO WORK WITH HIS WIFE, MEGAN, CAPTAIN 10, AND SHE COMMANDER 10.
SHE WAS ALWAYS OUT THERE DEDICATED.
AND THEN THEY RAISED THREE GREAT, WONDERFUL KIDS.
ONE OF 'EM A YOUNG ADULT NOW, AND THE OTHER TWO RIGHT HERE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE SAGE FRIGHT TOO, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'S JUST, HE'S A FAMILY MAN.
AND, AND HE, HE NEVER WAVERED HIM FOR TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY AND LOVED HIM.
WHAT PEOPLE, WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MAN IS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE IS TOP TO BOTTOM A FAMILY MAN.
AND HE'S BEEN TAKING CARE OF HIS PARENTS ALL THIS TIME.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, HE WANT, HE LOVES THEM AND HE HURTS TO SEE ANY OF THEM SUFFER.
AND HE IS BEEN THERE EVERY DAY AND IT WEIGHS ON HIM.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? HE NEVER ONCE WAVERED.
HE STILL CAME TO WORK AND DID HIS JOB AND THEN HE WOULD GO BACK HOME AND HE WOULD WORK THOSE LATE NIGHTS, PROBABLY COMING IN TO WORK WITH TWO HOURS OF SLEEP BECAUSE HE IS WITH HIS, WITH HIS DAD AND WITH HIS MOM AND HIS FAMILY.
YOU'RE GETTING A MAN THAT WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND HE WILL SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE FOX HOLE WITH YOU BEFORE.
I'LL BE IN THE FOX HOLE WITH YOU AGAIN.
EVERY TIME YOU WERE OUT THERE, IT ALWAYS GAVE ME COMFORT.
I KNEW IT WAS ALL GONNA BE OKAY.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA YIELD TO CHIEF FINNER BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA TAKE TOO LONG.
BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER.
LOVE YOU REALLY CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
BEFORE I BRING UP CHIEF CENTER, I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK HIM FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE.
WE'RE A GREAT CITY BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF SO MANY, BUT NO ONE MORE THAN CHIEF FINNER.
I KNOW FOR A FACT HE'S HELPED SHAPE AND MOW CHIEF 10.
I KNOW THAT HE IMPRESSED UPON ME WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON SOME DIFFICULT EARLY MONTHS IN MY ADMINISTRATION.
CHIEF 10 WAS ALWAYS THERE AND HE ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY FROM CHIEF NER.
I'M NOT SURPRISED YOU HERE, YOU'RE HERE.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR CITY AND YOU LOVE YOUR DEPARTMENT AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOU IF YOU WILL JOIN ME AND RECOGNIZE THIS PUBLIC SERVANT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
UH, I WANT TO SAY, AND UH, PASTOR FM WILLIAMS IS A WITNESS.
WHEN I WALKED IN, I SEEN ALL THE CAMERAS AND I SAID, MAN, IT SURE FEEL GOOD NOT TO GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS
AND THEN MY MY MAYOR COME AND SAY, WELL, HEY, YOU NEED TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
SO LOOK, I'M IN A PERIOD OF REST AND REFLECTION.
AND, UM, YOU CANNOT FIND A MORE LOYAL, MORE DEDICATED PERSON, UH, THAN BAND 10.
BUT REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY HIS ZEST FOR JUST DOING THE RIGHT THING AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, MOTHER.
AND THANK GOD THAT YOU HEAR DAD IS SO SICK HE COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD EVERY DAY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, AND YOU PUT IN SOMETIMES 18 HOURS, SOMETIMES 20 HOURS, AND YOU GO HOME AND YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY.
AND MOTON ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SAY, HE NOT ONLY SERVED OUR NATION, HE ACTUALLY FOUGHT TWO WARS AND WAS INJURED.
AND BAND 10 IS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT DON'T LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.
AND JUST AS THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SERVE AND NOT BE SERVED, THAT'S BAND 10.
NOW, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I'M PARTIAL OF HPD, OKAY? BUT HE WILL REMAIN IN THE CITY AND THE REGION, AND THAT IS A TRUE BLESSING.
THIS GUY PUTS IT IN EVERY DAY, LOVES THE COMMUNITY, AND SO, SO, SO VERY INTELLIGENT.
[00:20:01]
BEN, I'LL TELL YOU THIS, AND I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IT PUBLICLY, 34 YEARS.A LOT OF POLICING WITH TROY FINNER.
YOU'RE AT THE VERY TOP AND I SAY IT AT YOUR RETIREMENT AND I MEANT IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I JUST HOPE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE AROUND YOU AT THE VERY TOP OF THAT ORGANIZATION ARE JUST AS YOURSELF.
BECAUSE I WAS BLESSED BEING THERE WITH YOU EVERY DAY BECAUSE YOU HAD MY BACK.
UM, THE FINAL THING I WANT TO SAY, AND MARY, PLEASE ALLOW ME 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
IT'S BAND TENS DAY TODAY, OKAY? BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE VERA BUMPS FOR HER SERVICE, UM, BECAUSE SHE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH US.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR'S GONNA GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK TO HER AND BAND.
HEY MAN, KNOCK IT OUT AND WE ALL HERE RIGHT FOR YOU.
AND, AND, UH, OUR CITY, OUR REGION WILL GO FORWARD.
AND METRO IS BLESSED BECAUSE OF THIS APPOINTMENT TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OATH.
THANK YOU CHIEF FINNER, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK CERTAINLY LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, UH, DIRECTORS AT THE CITY.
I COULD GO ON AND ON THANKING PEOPLE FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE SHOWN US.
SEE, I THINK ALL OF US, EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE IS A PUBLIC SERVANT, WHETHER YOU'RE EVER ON A BALLOT OR NOT.
AND CERTAINLY CHIEF FINN, WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHIEF BUMPER'S, YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT'S A SACRIFICE THAT SHE HAS SHOWN AWAY FROM HER FAMILY IN LONG HOURS.
I COULD ASK MANY OF YOU TO JOIN ME IN THE SWEARING IN ACTUALLY GIVEN THE OATH, BUT NONE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN ONE OF THE BEST APPOINTMENTS THAT I'VE MADE.
ELIZABETH BROCK AND HER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A VISION, A MISSION TO MAKE THIS THE BEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES, WE ALL KNOW THAT.
BUT, UH, I'VE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH SOMEONE THAT I'VE WORKED WITH IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR MANY YEARS AND, UH, I WOULD ASK HER TO JOIN ME AT THIS TIME AND YIELD TO HER FOR SOME REMARKS.
AND THEN WE WILL DO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TODAY.
UH, CHAIRMAN BROCK, CHAIR WARM BROCK.
I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT CHOOSING A POLICE CHIEF WAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, UH, COMES WITH A LOT OF WEIGHT.
BUT EVERY SENSE WE HAVE ANNOUNCED WHO THE NEW POLICE CHIEF IS, WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING BUT FEEDBACK SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU JUST HEARD.
EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL THAT I'VE RECEIVED HAS PRAISED CHIEF 10.
IT HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE.
I'M SO, SO VERY PROUD, UM, OF, OF THIS APPOINTMENT.
SO I WANNA BEGIN BY FIRST THANKING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, EVERYONE THAT'S IN THE ROOM, YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS GREAT.
I ALSO WANT US TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CHIEF BUMPERS FOR HER 43 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR METRO.
I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM.
I'LL START WITH, UH, SENATOR RADO COUNCIL, UH, CONSTABLE ALLEN ROSEN, THANK C BEING HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, EDWARD POLLARD, COUNCIL MEMBER HO UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
I HAVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM, UM, SENATOR CORNYN'S OFFICE.
JAY GUERRERO, REPRESENTATIVE FROM TED CRUZ'S OFFICE, KELLY WATERMAN.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, CHIEF MUNOZ AND OUR BOARD MEMBER, METRO BOARD MEMBER, UH, ANGEL POE AND REVEREND PRESTON.
[00:25:06]
TODAY'S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY BECAUSE AS WE SWEAR IN CHIEF BANIN TO THE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL NO LONGER BE A PLACE FOR BAD GUYS.AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION IS A PRIORITY.
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
WHETHER YOU ARE A WRITER LIVE OR WORK NEAR TRANSIT, OR ARE OUR VERY OWN METRO EMPLOYEES.
TODAY IS ALSO HISTORIC BECAUSE CHIEF 10 IS THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN TO LEAD MPD AND WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
WE WILL APPLAUD MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR HAVING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ADMINISTRATION.
HE HAS REALLY SET THE TONE FOR REWARDING OUR TOP TALENT AND DEDICATED SERVICE.
CHIEF 10 JOINS US FOLLOWING AN IMPRESSIVE 25 YEAR CAREER AT HOUSTON, UH, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE ALSO SERVED AS A SPECIAL AGENT IN THE UNITED STATES DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR 32 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND ARMY RESERVES, INCLUDING THREE COMBAT TOURS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
SO WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
HIS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE NOT ONLY MAKE HIM THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THIS CRUCIAL ENDEAVOR, HOWEVER, CHIEF TEN'S REPUTATION AND CAN-DO ATTITUDE MAKES HIM THE RIGHT PERSON.
METRO'S MISSION CENTERS AROUND PROVIDING SAFE, CLEAN, RELIABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT FOR ALL.
AND WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE CHIEF 10 ON BOARD TO LEAD THIS SAFETY EFFORT BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY HINGES ON PEOPLE KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SAFE TO RIDE METRO TO DRIVE, TO WALK AROUND THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA.
AND UNDER CHIEF 10, CHIEF TEN'S LEADERSHIP METRO PD WILL WORK WITH ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DELIVER A COORDINATED STRATEGY.
SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS ERA OF SAFETY AND SERVICE AT METRO AND OUR COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND NEIGHBORING LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTS MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S BELIEF THAT SAFETY IS A SHARED VISION AND THAT OUR WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES IS A COLLECTIVE PRIORITY.
I'D LIKE TO NOW WELCOME CHIEF 10 TO METRO AND, UH, IF YOU'LL COME UP TO THE FRONT FOR YOUR SWEARING IN PLEASE.
WHAT YOUR NAME, NAME, HUH? IS YOUR FAMILY WITH US? YES, SIR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES FOR THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE, THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WE'LL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE MY BEST SIGN.
WHAT A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.
I'M LITTLE STAGE FRIGHT RIGHT NOW BY JUDGING THE SIZE OF THE CROWD.
I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS, SO, UH, I'M NOT AS ELOQUENT AS MAYOR AND UH, CHAIR, BUT I'LL TRY MY BEST.
I SLIGHTLY WILL HAVE TO READ, UH, MY SCRIPT.
I'M GONNA DO BETTER THAN THAT.
[00:30:01]
OFFICIALS, CHIEF BROCK.I THINK I SAW CHIEF DIAZ IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
OH, FORMER BOSS AND MY CURRENT BOSS,
ANYWAY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, EVERYONE HERE TO SUPPORT ME FOR THIS HISTORIC AND EXCITING STEP INTO MY CAREER.
AND I SINCERELY AM HUMBLE AND HONOR TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I SEE QUITE A FEW OUT HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
EVERY SINGLE DAY I'M HONORED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSERVE YOU AND OUR GREAT CITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS REGION AS I TRANSITION INTO MY NEW ROLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR METRO LEADERSHIP AND BOARD MAYOR, OUR HPD FAMILY.
I'M GONNA CALL YOU GUYS FAMILY.
DON'T, DON'T, DON'T ABANDON ME.
SO YOU GUYS ARE STILL MY FAMILY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS IN THIS REGION FOR BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN ALL OUR AGENCIES.
I DO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE CHALLENGES AND THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO OUR RESOURCES.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP AND INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATIONS ARE SECOND TO NONE IN THIS REGION.
AND WE COULD ALL DO THIS TOGETHER AND WE CAN OVERCOME ALL THOSE CHALLENGES.
COLLABORATION IS REALLY NOT A NEW CONCEPT, BUT IT MAKES OUR REGION UNIQUE FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT COLLABORATION.
WE HAVE TEAM, YOU HAVE WORKING GROUP, YOU HAVE TASK FORCE.
IT PERHAPS WILL LAST A SPAN OF TIME.
WHAT WE HAVE IS AN ALLIANCE TODAY.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND ALL THIS DIFFERENT UNIFORM AND ALL THIS DIFFERENT AGENCY REPRESENTING TODAY.
BECAUSE OF THIS ALLIANCE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS TOGETHER AND MAKE OUR CITY SAFER.
AND HOUSTON IS A DIVERSE CITY.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE NATION, AND IT'S RAPIDLY GROWING.
THEREFORE, AS A UNITED FRONT, IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO ADDRESS COMPLEX CHALLENGES IN URBAN POLICING.
WITH THAT SAID, I AM READY AND I STAND READY EVERY DAY TO SERVE OUR CITY AND OUR REGION IN THIS NEW CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE STRATEGY LIKE THE MAYOR AND BOARD CHAIR JUST SAID, TO PROTECT OUR METRO RIDERS, OUR EMPLOYEE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE'S A METRO PRESENCE.
AND FOR WHAT I DON'T KNOW YET, LET'S DEAL WITH A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.
TOM, YOUR MENTORSHIP SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, I AM COMMITTED TO BEING BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHILE OFFICERS AND STAFF UNTIL I UNDERSTAND THE FULL PICTURES OF OUR NEEDS, OUR CAPABILITIES AND STRATEGIES.
BUT TIME IS IN ESSENCE PRETTY SURE, UH, BOARD CHAIR, MAYOR, HIRE ME.
NOT JUST TO HANG OUT AND BE AROUND TO LOOK GOOD, BUT I AM COMMITTED
SO I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CUSTOMER FEEL SAFE, OUR COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE.
AND METRO IS PART OF THE INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION THAT MAKE ALL OF US SAFE.
I SEE QUITE A FEW OF Y'ALL OVER THERE.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR 25 YEARS OF SUPPORT.
I'M NOT GREEDY, BUT I'M ASKING FOR MORE
I'M ONE OF THOSE KIDS LIKE MY COLLEGE KID RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU WANT 'EM GO AWAY.
JUST COME BACK AND ASK FOR MORE, ASK FOR MORE HELP.
AND TO MY METRO TEAM, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU TO FULFILL OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY, OUR RIDERS EMPLOYEE AND THE RESIDENT OF THIS GREAT CITY I JUST MENTIONED.
THERE'S A FEW FOLKS I NEED TODAY.
I'LL SAVIOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I AM SO BLESSED TODAY BECAUSE OF HIM AND ALL HIM.
SECONDLY, MY COUNTRY FOR IMMIGRANT KID THAT CAME WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
MY PARENTS, MY MOM BARELY SPEAK ENGLISH.
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL BECAUSE JUST WHAT MAYOR MC KID JUST SAID, WHERE THEY STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD ONLY AMERICAN, WE GET THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND TO MY FAMILY, EVERYTHING COME AT A COST.
MY WIFE WILL SAID, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT SOLDIER, A GREAT POLICE OFFICER.
[00:35:01]
YOU'RE SO, SO HUSBANDBUT MY COMEBACK IS DON'T BE MAD AT ME BECAUSE I LOVE OUR COUNTRY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN Y'ALL.
I NEED YOUR HELP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
DESPITE MY BEST EFFORT, I KNOW I WILL FALL SHORT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
TRUST ME, THE BIG GUY UPSTAIRS HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT OF TESTS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND LAST FEW MONTHS.
AND I FELL ALL IF NOT MOST OF THEM.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE I WILL BE COMMITTED AND THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
BEFORE I DECLARE THIS BEN 10 DAY IN HOUSTON, I THINK I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY ELECT HERE,
WE WHEN, WHEN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS REP ARREST THE BAD GUYS, WE SURELY PLAN ON YOU HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A GREAT FRESH START FOR ALL OF US TO GO AFTER THE BAD GUYS.
AND CHIEF MUNOZ, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK YOU'RE DOING TO BRING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER.
THE MORALE'S NEVER BEEN HIRED.
AND CHIEF DIAZ, THANK YOU FOR WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
I'VE GOT TO EMPHASIZE SOME CAPTAIN.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE HOW CLOSE METRO AND H HPD IS GONNA WORK TOGETHER, HERE'S, HERE'S THE COLLABORATION.
THEY'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT METRO.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA WIN THE ARGUMENT, BUT, UH, I'M GOING TO BET.
LISTEN, I COULD READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.
WE COULD NOT HAVE A MORE OUTSTANDING PERSON TO TAKE OVER, UH, METRO.
AND NOW THEREFORE, JOHN WITTMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
DEAR HEREBY RECOGNIZE ON NOVEMBER 15TH AS 2024 AS CHIEF BANDT 10 DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
LET'S, UH, LET'S GO TO WORK, BUT WE'LL BE HERE FOR PICTURES AS LONG AS Y'ALL LIKE TO MEET WITH THE FAMILY.