Houston Mayor John Whitmire is digging in his heels on public safety, pledging to make Houstonians feel safer and unite the city under his new administration. At the Houston Area Police Chief’s Association meeting on Thursday, Whitmire, who has recently taken office, skirted around declining crime statistics and emphasized the importance of addressing the perception of crime in the city. "The public and I know that we can do better," Whitmire said in a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
Battling for Houston for more than five decades at the state capitol, 74-year-old Whitmire has promised sweeping changes to improve public safety and service delivery. After being sworn in, Whitmire's agenda has been ambitious, vowing to personally recruit additional police officers, end a longstanding labor dispute with firefighters, and address critical infrastructure needs. According to a FOX 26 Houston report, he declared, "I have no patience, no time to waste."
Despite Houston's homicide rates dropping by about 20% from the previous year, Whitmire believes reducing crime figures is not enough; making citizens actually feel secure is the real measure of success. During the post-meeting news conference, Whitmire and local law enforcement leaders discussed improving law enforcement communication and public interaction. Interestingly, while crime data appears to be improving, the palpable concern within the community points to an atmospheric fear, not totally relieved by decreasing numbers.
In his quest for change, Whitmire is looking to external support avenues, toying with the idea of city audits and discussing firearm subsidies for cadets. The newly-minted mayor, who took office with an assertive win, also announced initiatives for interagency cooperation and highlighted state trooper involvement in the city. Whitmire told the Houston Chronicle, "We're going to do whatever it takes to make people feel safe," despite having the same state troopers around that were stationed previously, as per Texas Department of Public Safety's spokesman Sgt. Stephen Woodard.
Following a resolute campaign promise to stitch together a fragmented city, faced with uncertainties from its own residents, Whitmire intends to carve out a unified Houston. Addressing Houstonians on his first day, he said, "If we do not address public safety, the other quality of life issues will not matter," emphasizing the urgency on which his administration is predicated, as he relayed in a discussion with FOX 26 Houston.
