{"id":273649,"date":"2025-10-03T04:33:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T04:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/273649\/"},"modified":"2025-10-03T04:33:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T04:33:14","slug":"houston-mayor-john-whitmire-reacts-to-gov-abbotts-crime-task-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/273649\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Mayor John Whitmire reacts to Gov. Abbott\u2019s crime task force"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 Mayor John Whitmire is responding to Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s announcement of a new violent crime task force that will launch in Houston and Harris County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Abbott unveiled the initiative earlier this week, saying violent crime in Houston is already down 22% compared to last year \u2014 but stressing more must be done. The task force will involve multiple state agencies, including DPS Special Agents, Texas Rangers, and aircraft units, working alongside HPD, the Harris County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and other local law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Mayor Whitmire told KPRC 2 News Reporter Corley Peel he was briefed last week that the governor was interested in launching the task force. Whitmire said the city has already been collaborating with DPS since he took office, and that the added state resources will help strengthen Houston\u2019s fight against crime.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI\u2019ve said all along we\u2019re going to make Houston a greater city, a safer city,\u201d Whitmire said. \u201cAny given day, we may have 70, 75 DPS officers helping HPD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The mayor emphasized the value of DPS technology and aerial coverage, explaining that helicopters can help end police chases more safely. He added that the task force will not only bring personnel but also forensic science and investigative tools that HPD does not currently have.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">When asked how the program is being funded, Whitmire said: \u201cYou and me \u2014 we pay state sales tax. And so it comes out of the state budget.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Alongside the announcement, Governor Abbott is urging Texans to support Proposition 3 in the upcoming election. If approved, it would allow judges to deny bail to suspects charged with violent crimes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Whitmire echoed the importance of accountability in the courts: \u201cWe need to hold violent offenders accountable and not be giving them low bonds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Residents can expect to see an increased law enforcement presence across Houston neighborhoods and freeways as the task force rolls out, with surges aimed at cutting down road rage and violent crime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Whitmire\u2019s spokesperson also sent KPRC 2 News the following statement&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201d Mayor Whitmire did not request the program; however, the City of Houston is always happy to collaborate with DPS and other law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff\u2019s Office, METRO and others. The mayor has been open about working with public safety agencies to make Houston safer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 Mayor John Whitmire is responding to Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s announcement of a new violent crime task&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":273650,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[4219,141762,5026,4345,16301,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-273649","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-crime","9":"tag-crime-task-force","10":"tag-greg-abbott","11":"tag-houston","12":"tag-john-whitmire","13":"tag-texas","14":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115308371222175181","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}