John Whitmire ran for mayor in 2023 promising to put 200 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on Houston’s highways. Two years into his term, that hasn’t happened — and Harris County actually has fewer DPS troopers than when he took office — even as city and state officials tout new crackdowns, as reported by Houston Chronicle.
According to the Houston Chronicle, an open‑records tally shows 122 commissioned full‑time troopers stationed in Harris County as of January 2025, down from 135 in 2020; the number fell to roughly 120 in 2021 and has hovered there. University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus told the paper, “Outcomes matter; I think the mayor is less concerned about the optics.” The Chronicle also reported Whitmire’s office did not respond to a request for comment. The shortfall undercuts Whitmire’s campaign pledge to add 200 troopers to city patrols.
Abbott's task force
In October, Gov. Greg Abbott rolled out a “violent crimes task force” aimed at targeting repeat violent offenders in Harris County. As reported by The Texas Tribune, DPS Director Freeman Martin said residents should expect “see an increased uniform presence and patrol operations in high crime areas” in high‑crime areas. The announcement highlighted interagency coordination but offered few specifics on how many troopers would be reassigned — or for how long.
How the operation will work
State officials described a multi‑agency push that combines DPS troopers, special agents, Texas Rangers and local police, supported by aircraft and intelligence teams. Local reporting noted the plan pairs high‑visibility, saturated patrols with covert surveillance focused on previously identified repeat offenders. As Click2Houston reported, officials emphasized targeted operations rather than a permanent, mass reassignment of troopers to the Houston area.
Where the troopers are
The Chronicle’s open‑records review found similar shifts around the region: Montgomery County had about 70 troopers as of January 2025, down from 80 in 2020, while Brazoria County’s full‑time positions rose from 39 to 51. The same report noted that, even as staffing shifted, a Major Cities Chiefs Association survey showed homicides, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults all declined in Houston from 2024 to 2025 — a mixed picture for anyone arguing more uniforms are the sole solution. Houston Chronicle provided the county‑by‑county figures and the survey reference.
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