Houston Welcomes Noe Diaz as New Police Chief and Tom Muñoz as Fire Chief Amid Public Safety Renewal

Today witnessed the ushering in of a new era for Houston's public safety with the City Council's confirmation of Noe Diaz as the Police Chief and Tom Muñoz as the Fire Chief. Diaz, who has been leading a department of around 70 as Katy's police chief since 2019, ascends to take charge of a much larger force, numbering about 5,000 officers. 

During the course of his expansive career, Chief Diaz has donned various hats, including time with the Texas Rangers and the Department of Public Safety. Diaz's move to a department 70 times the size of Katy's came without immediate concern to the Houston Police Officers Union. “If you put the right people in place and I think that he will, I think we’ll move forward and we will not have an issue," HPOU President Douglas Griffith said, in a statement obtained by KHOU. Keeping priorities in alignment with the new administration, Diaz vows to focus on staffing issues along with combating crime, aligning with Mayor John Whitmire's objectives.

Similarly, with 26 years tucked under his belt as first responder, Muñoz brings a well-seasoned perspective to the Fire Department. Having held positions within the city's Office of Emergency Management and spending two decades in the U.S. Coast Guard reserves, the new Fire Chief expressed commitment to the betterment of his department. "I am committed to taking care of the residents of Houston, which must begin with taking care of the men and women of the Houston Fire Department. The work we do today will have a lasting impact for years to come, and I know that with this administration, we can improve the safety of all residents and future generations," Muñoz relayed through a release from the mayor's office, as reported by KHOU.

The ceremony saw emotions run high as Muñoz had his badge pinned on by his son. According to the Houston Chronicle, Muñoz stated, “We’ve got work to do …  it’s good to be back home,” after taking his oath.