Mayor Turner Outlines Sweeping Reforms to Improve Policing in Houston

Mayor Sylvester Turner has outlined a significant number of reforms to improve accountability, transparency, and build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and the community in Houston. The reforms, based on recommendations from the Mayor's Task Force on Policing Reform, include changes to police policies, the appointment of a Deputy Inspector General, and investments in crisis intervention and mental health services. The goal is to create a more responsive and accountable police department that prioritizes community needs.

Key Takeaways:

• The Houston Police Department's policy on Body-Worn Cameras has been changed to allow for the release of video within 30 days.
• "No-knock" warrants for nonviolent offenses have been banned.
• A Deputy Inspector General, Crystal Okorafor, has been appointed to lead the new Office of Policing Reform and Accountability.
• An Executive Order has been signed to restructure the Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB) and name a new board chair, Stephen Ives of the YMCA of Greater Houston.
• The city's complaint and information filing process has been overhauled, with a new website offering five data dashboards on police transparency.
• $25 million has been invested in crisis intervention over the next three years.
• The city plans to expand existing partnerships between the HPD, mental health professionals, and social services organizations to lighten the load on officers when responding to vulnerable populations.
• Key initiatives include: expanding crisis case diversion, hiring additional counselors and clinicians, implementing Clinician Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) technology, and funding the Citywide Domestic Abuse Response Team.

Statistics:

• $25 million has been invested in crisis intervention over the next three years.
• 18 additional Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams will be hired, with 36 additional clinicians.
• 6 CIRT Teams will be added, with 6 additional counselors and 6 additional MSW (Master of Social Work) clinicians.
• 80 HPD CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Trained Officers will be provided with tele-health technology under the Clinician Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) proposal.
• $4.3 million will be invested annually in expanding crisis case diversion.
• $2.4 million will be invested annually in adding CIRT Teams and hiring additional counselors and clinicians.

Sources:

• "Mayor Turner Outlines Sweeping Reforms to Improve Policing in Houston". Houston Mayor's Office.
• Testimony of Mayor Sylvester Turner.
• Testimony of Task Force Chair Larry Payne.
• Testimony of Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Persse.