October 2016

In this issue:

Tom Kennedy

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE GOOD GUYS ARE WINNING. Two ongoing crusades launched by the Houston Police Officers Union offer encouragement to us officers who are performing dangerous tasks no one wants to do and too many people take for granted. We refer to the newly launched “Let’s Pray Texas” campaign, a statewide “pray for Read More Read more

Sgt. Tom Hayes

The Houston Police Officers Union is all for partnering with the Houston area news media to educate the public about the realities of police work, to offer crime prevention tips and to explain use of force incidents from an officer’s perspective. However, HPOU can no longer tolerate the repetitive issues that have arisen with the Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Continuing its ongoing leadership in statewide policing matters, the Houston Police Officers Union has launched a statewide pray-for-law enforcement officers effort entitled Let’s Pray Texas. The bedrock of the effort will be an Oct. 19 prayer event on the steps of the State Capitol in Austin. In the words of HPOU 1st Vice President Doug Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

There’s only three words that will describe this year’s HPOU 5th Annual Family Picnic – BIGGER AND BETTER! This extremely popular event that began in 2012 ranks in many ways like the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in that the planning for “next year” begins as soon as this year’s session is over.   More Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

The Union has undertaken another productive partnership with the Houston Police Foundation to purchase Level 4 bullet-proof vests for HPD officers. The effort is producing an exciting success story. And that story isn’t over. In fact, it is only beginning. So far the plan has resulted in the purchase of 400 vests with another 200 Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Two psychologists from HPD Psychological Services will lead a department-wide family engagement session for HPD family members on Sept. 20 with an emphasis on ways to cope with current community attitudes toward law enforcement officers. The meeting will be from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the HPOU building. Dr. Lisa Garmezy of Psychological Services Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

The HPOU and Operation Lone Star will do its part in the U. S. Department of Defense’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Honoring Vietnam veterans will continue to be a primary part of the special commemoration. All Vietnam War veterans currently in the Houston Police Department will be specially recognized in Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

The HPOU honored Senior Police Officer Frank Gomez of the Traffic Enforcement Division’s Highway Interdiction Unit as the Patrol Officer of the Month in the Union’s August general membership meeting. On April 14 Officer Gomez mad a traffic stop that resulted in the rescue of a 10-year-old  boy from a situation where he had been Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

The Houston Police Officers Union selected Officer Monica Fortson as Investigator of the Month in its August general membership meeting. During the month of March Officer Fortson was assigned to investigate 13 sexual assault cases. She noticed that there were similarities regarding modus operandi, suspect description, vehicle description and area of sexual assaults. The suspect Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Ashly Pavon, the 13-year-old girl for whom the HPOU sponsors education and health care services in poverty-stricken Honduras, is proving herself to be quite a soccer star. The HPOU Board of Directors has voted unanimously since 2012 to sponsor Ashly, whose family could not otherwise afford to send her to school. The sponsorship not only Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Erica Bock emanates from a two-sided HPD family and laughs when she tells why she didn’t choose a law enforcement career herself. “I would tell people, ‘No, I don’t think I’m good at it. I’m too nice,’ ” she said in a Badge & Gun interview, cleverly chiding police family members and many friends who Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Over the years numerous key events take place that remind us that people really care about never forgetting the 113 men and women in Houston Blue who bravely gave their lives in the line of duty. The latest concerns Officer E. G. Meinecke, one of five officers who died in the Camp Logan Riot on Read More Read more

Lisa Garmezy

The Houston Police Department generously sent Dr. Maren Jones and me to support the Dallas Police Department after the July 7 murders. At the time, officers weren’t grieving so much as gearing up for battle. Now, as police forces across the nation cautiously exhale, the bereaved can begin to heal. But how? Faith is a Read More Read more

Nelson Zoch

February 8, 1886 A headline from the New York Times of Tuesday, February 9, 1886 read:   A POLICEMAN MURDERED-THE CRIME OF A MAN DRIVEN CRAZY BY STRONG DRINK   From that same day, a headline from the Galveston Daily News read:   SLAIN WITH A SIX-SHOOTER-MORE BLOODSHED IN THE BAYOU CITY   Other newspapers Read More Read more

Ronda Elsenbrook, R.D.

As a law enforcement officer, chances are you’re used to balancing a crazy work schedule with your health. Managing long hours, irregular shifts and busy days can make it difficult to eat healthy. Bringing a healthy lunch from home may not always be feasible, especially if you’re spending most of your time out in the Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

BRANNON Mr. Richard Garrett Brannon, 85, passed away on July 25, 2016.  He is the father of Senior Police Officer Roger Mahoney, assigned to the South Central Division. Services were held July 29 with burial in Southpark Cemetery in Pearland.     CARTER Retired Sergeant James Clyde Carter passed away on Friday, August 5, 2016, Read More Read more

Tom Kennedy

Dear HPOU, Thank you so much for your kind words of sympathy and the beautiful plant. Our kindness is greatly appreciated. The Sanders and Fagan Family  HPOU, Thank you so much for the fruit arrangement. It was perfect! Thank you also for the continued support you’ve given to me and my family. Veronica  Houston Police Read More Read more