Outstanding Public Safety Honorees Recognized at Annual Luncheon

At the Public Safety Luncheon on May 15 held at the Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport, the District celebrated collaborative safety and security efforts and recognized thirty public safety partners whose performance and participation show a true commitment to excellence and to prioritizing public safety.

The following individuals were recognized with an award:

Loyalty in Service

Houston Fire Department

Senior Captain Terry Hall

Captain Galen Hargrave

Engineer Operator Chad Rogers

Engineer Operator Lance Gandy

Firefighter Cedric Allen

Firefighter Joel Key

The Impact Maker

Houston Police Department

Officer Aaron Negrete

Officer Andrea Muñoz

Operation Freedom

Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas State Trooper Adam Rose

Texas State Trooper Brian Poat

Public Safety Partner of the Year

The Harvest

Public Safety Person of the Year

Michael Gallo

Heartbeat Hero

Harris County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Somone Walker

Deputy Keitric Hubert

Thank you to our sponsors!

GOLD SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

Singh Management

Program

Welcome

Tracy Harrison

Vice President of Public Safety

North Houston District

Opening Prayer

Pastor E.A. Deckard

Green House International Church

National Anthem

Bethlehem Medellin

Introductions

Special Remarks

Sean Teare

Harris County District Attorney

Award Presentations

Closing Prayer

Bishop RJ Mathews

The Harvest

Strong Partnerships Lead to Safer Surroundings

Many law enforcement organizations were represented at the Public Safety Luncheon, and the diverse organizational support illustrates how partnerships with entities such as the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and Spartan Security serve a critical role in protecting the District. Leadership at apartment properties in the District and many business operators and community members also contribute to public safety success. Our partnerships include:

• Houston Police Department: The District funds the lease that allows the HPD’s North Belt Division to headquarter in the District and ultimately be staffed by approximately 130 officers. Also, each summer the Bike Patrol, which is a Special Operations division of HPD, provides routine patrols in parks, trails and common areas and interacts with the community. Earlier this year the District funded the purchase of four e-bikes for officer patrol use.
• Harris County Sheriff’s Office: The District contracts with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to provide proactive policing in the area. This program increases police visibility, targets specific community concerns and shares crime prevention strategies.
• Off-Duty Patrol: The District employs a number of off-duty officers and deputies who routinely patrol businesses, multi-family properties and retail areas. Providing high-visibility patrol, the officers work six days a week during the day and evening.
• Apartment Property Leadership: District Public Safety staff maintain relationships with apartment owners, managers, and security teams to provide resources that promote safety.

Crime Prevention Programs That Make A Difference

Thanks to the partnerships highlighted above, the District also funds the following crime prevention efforts:

• Security cameras at strategic locations within District boundaries that record license plate and vehicle description data for 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles per day.
• Added park security from private contractors to perform patrols, both on foot and in marked vehicles, at the larger parks.
• Corporate Safety Presentations provide engaging and informative public safety tips to businesses and special interest groups upon request.
• Community engagement opportunities throughout the year include March on Crime Week, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments for businesses and property owners, Auto Theft Prevention Report Cards that educate the public on how to keep vehicles safe, and the annual Community Night Out.