HPD Lamb

The Italian automaker handed Antonio Manganelli, head of the Italian State Police, the keys to a Gallardo LP560 "Polizia" model that makes the Dodge Charger and Carbon E7 police cars look like a Crown Vic on its last legs.

The Gallardo Polizia is chock-full of high-tech equipment, not the least of which is that sweet 5.2-liter V10. It will propel the Gallardo Polizia to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, making it just the thing for chasing down criminals or making a run for espresso (or hot donuts).

The latest Polizia model is chock-full of high-tech gear, including a video camera and a GPS unit that will determine exactly how fast you were going when the “Italian Law” finally stops you. It even has a refrigerated cooler for transporting donor organs and a heart defibrillator behind the passenger seat. I wonder if it has cup holders.

I thought it would be fun to “Photoshop” the “real McCoy” above, and see what the Gallardo Polizia model would look like as an HPD patrol car.

Not bad…

“In dreams I think of you.”

Rain or Shine

Do you have what it takes?

A U.S. Department of Justice-funded research project focusing on the "Hiring In The Spirit of Service" initiative identified the following as core competencies for law enforcement officers:

•Ability to use good judgment and to problem solve
•Capacity for empathy and compassion
•Capacity for multi-tasking
•Ability to demonstrate courage and to take responsibility
•Ability to be resourceful and show initiative
•Demonstrating assertiveness
•Possess and demonstrate integrity
•Capacity for engaging in teamwork and ability to collaborate

Future of Policing?

A company called Carbon Motors www.carbonmotors.com has designed the E7—the world’s first purpose-built law enforcement patrol vehicle, designed by law enforcement, for law enforcement. Could this be the future of law enforcement? How cool would that be?

Maybe this K-9 would rather be at a baseball game...

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Are you Ready?

L. Curley, HPD Photo Lab

Are you honest, ethical and of high moral character? Are you committed to serving and working in partnership with your community? Are you looking for a rewarding career? Houston, Texas is the fourth largest city in the United States and one of the finest and most diverse cities in the country.

You can go as far as your determination takes you. Every sworn member of the Houston Police Department, from the highest-ranking position down, began his or her career as a Police Officer. The experience and knowledge you gain, along with the problem-solving skills you develop, can be used anywhere.

Experience Houston’s rich culture, diverse neighborhoods and give yourself the opportunity that smaller departments simply can not give you.

A career with the Houston Police Department offers stability, attractive compensation, opportunities for advancement, and superb benefits.

With a diverse workforce of over 5100 men and women, the Houston Police Department has over 250 units covering every aspect of law enforcement and community service.

The Houston Police Department offers men and women the opportunity to utilize the latest law enforcement methodologies and technology tools.

The waiting list may seem long, but I promise, the wait is worth it. Apply online today at http://www.hpdcareer.com/ and start your application process. Although we currently have only two classes scheduled, change could occur at anytime and more classes could be scheduled. By applying online today, you will already have your application in our system.

What are you waiting for?

K-9 Reject - Beat this Caption!

During HPD K-9 tryouts "Tiny Thunder" did well in all phases of testing, however, came up short in the drug detecting phase by pointing out the wrong "coke".

Beat this caption and you will win an HPD lapel pin. Make sure you leave your email address with the caption so that I may get your mailing address if you are voted the winner. Have a great weekend.

Haiti Relief

Attention HPD Employees: The Haitian Disaster Relief collection effort has been extended through Monday, January 25, 2010. Acting Chief of Police C. A. McClelland is urging all Houston Police Department personnel to contribute to the Haitian disaster relief effort. The 24 hour collection locations are listed below:

Westside- 3203 S. Dairy Ashford (281-584-4700)
Southeast- 8300 Mykawa Rd. (713-731-5000)
Northeast- 8301 Ley Rd. (713-6350200
North Division-9455 N. Montgomery Rd. (281-405-5300)
Fondren- 11168 Fondren Rd. (713-773-7900)
Central- 61 Riesner St. (713-247-4400)
Headquarters- 1200 Travis (713-308-3200)
Kingwood- 3915 Rustic Wood (281-913-4500)
Clear Lake- 2855 Bay Area Blvd. (281-218-3800)

Although this collection effort is being promoted exclusively to HPD employees ( as to not overwhelm resources), the listed stations will accept walk-in donations from citizens.

Nice Plates

But I bet he wants to be...

Do you like motorcycles?

How would you like to ride one for a living?

www.hpdcareer.com

Martin Luther King Day

Today we honor Martin Luther King Jr. The recruiting office will be closed today but we are never closed online. You may still apply online at www.hpdcareer.com

Serve your Country, Protect our City

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What is a hero? The dictionary describes a hero as a man or woman of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities. Many fans of this blog are in the military. They are fighting the war on terror at home and abroad. I receive several emails on a daily basis about what it takes to become a police officer once their service to our country is completed. On occasion, a blog reader will send me pictures or videos. This particular video amazed me. Whether you are serving your country while in the military or protecting your city as a police officer, this is one hero you need to know about. To our military friends and fans of HPD, you are all heroes to us and we invite you to consider becoming heroes for Houston. This post is not to say that we prefer military individuals over non-military, it is only an observation about what it takes to become a hero. The military is not for everyone. I personally never served in the military, but I have served this city as a police officer since I was 19 years old. For those of you who want to make a difference everyday right here in our backyard as a police officer, military or not, we invite you to make a difference with the Houston Police Department.

Amber Alert Awareness

I give you this post today because you care about your community and you are interested in doing whatever you can to make a difference.

Yesterday was Amber Alert Awareness Day. Since its creation in 1996, the AMBER Alert program has helped to find and safely recover 495 abducted children. Today all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have AMBER Alert plans. There is a unique tool available for you to receive Amber Alerts directly to your cell phone. Sign up today and help us save an abducted child in the future. Go to: www.wirelessamberalerts.org

Satisfaction

If you thrive on self satisfaction, this is the job for you. Among all the aggravations and pitfalls you'll encounter during your career, you'll experience countless opportunities to affect the lives of countless people in so many positive ways. If you decide to become a police officer now, that decision will actually save lives in the future. You'll know when you save a life by the overt action you take. You'll never know how many lives you've saved by just simply being there.

The Greatest Show on Earth...

...and you are sitting on the front row.

There is no other profession, occupation, or endeavor you could undertake where you'll experience the realities of life at their best and worst. If you keep at it long enough, you'll interact with every level of society, and you'll learn there's not a lot of difference among people regardless of their educational or economic achievements. People sit in classrooms for years trying to learn why people do the things they do. In the end, their education is nearly all based on theory and hearsay. As a police officer, you'll be a participant in, and an eyewitness to, the realities most people only read about. Not only is it the greatest show on Earth, but it's the best education on Earth.

Meet HPD Mounted Patrol Horse "Pepper"

Although the Mounted Patrol Officer may be very intimidating in crowd control situations, the general public sees him/her as very approachable. Citizens who wish to see and touch the horse will stop the Mounted Patrol Officer many times in his/her tour of duty.

Do you like horses? Pepper is one of the many horses that HPD has on the force. Once you put in at least two years of patrol time you may request to be transferred to the Mounted Patrol Division as openings become available. HPD is a large city with a large police department. Opportunities to move around within the department and gain multiple areas of experience exist only with a large department such as Houston.

Elvis turns 75

Elvis liked to hang out with policemen, collected police badges wherever he traveled, and enjoyed being made an honorary policeman in any city where he performed.

Elvis enjoyed hanging around cops; Elvis, it seems, actually thought of himself as a police officer. Several times, the singer even rode along with police officers as they made their rounds.
Elvis didn’t want to be a chief or a sheriff; he wanted to be a policeman, and thus identified himself with the patrolmen on the force."

Retired Memphis Police Department Captain Robert Ferguson stated that "Elvis was a down-to-earth person in our presence — a man who just happened to be famous." "He actually appeared to be in awe of us, rather than the other way around. It was a special time that none of us will ever forget.”

On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi. It was just a half hour before his identical twin, Jesse Garon Presley, was delivered stillborn, and Elvis, an only child, was the apple of his parents' eye. They were a poor family, and it was church where Presley found his first musical inspirations.

What does this have to do with recruiting? There is a certain honor about being a police officer. You gain a certain respect from all kinds of people (such as Elvis Presley) who do not choose this profession as their career. The fact that you are willing to go out in the community and make a difference, while risking your life, is something not everyone can do. A career you can be proud of. A career where as an individual or a group, you CAN make a difference.

Cadet Class 207 - Final Roll Call

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Tradition held strong as HPD Cadet Class 207 held their final roll call as the sun rose above the police academy yesterday morning. Cadet classes will stand in formation during roll call and will announce their names one by one very quickly. Throughout training, roll calls are done the same way every time, every morning. However, on graduation day, such as Class 207, it is done a little differently with each cadet of Class 207 slowing down and pronouncing their name loudly and proudly. Later that night, 79 men and women graduated and began wearing the blue uniform, the largest cadet class in HPD history.

Class 207 graduates tonight!

Tonight, Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker will join Acting Police Chief Charles A. McClelland and members of the HPD Command Staff in recognizing 79 men and women who will graduate from HPD Cadet Class #207, the largest cadet class in HPD history. The graduation will take place at the M. O. Campbell Educational Center, 1865 Aldine Bender.

Way to go Class 207, make us proud!

"Make my Day" by Alpos, HPD K-9 (Guest Blogger)

The other day I had just finished searching a large hotel and capturing a bad guy who had robbed someone, when I met a young man named Zach. I had been in an attic for over an hour and I was in the back seat of my patrol car getting some cool air. I noticed Zach walk by the car. I gave a bark and said hello. I saw Zach smile. He asked my partner if he could meet me. When my partner said yes, his entire face lit up. I had just fought and captured a bad guy and I really wanted meet one of the good guys, especially one that wanted to give me some love. I gave him a big lick on the side of his face and posed for this picture.

The cool thing about this whole ordeal is that while I was still excited and stressed from a long search and having to fight a bad guy, I was still able to make Zach's day. However, it actually made my day.

I am Alpos and I am a HPD K-9. I love my job and knowing that I am helping protect humans like Zach from bad guys makes my day, everyday. I wouldn’t trade a million boxes of milk bones for this job.

2009 Gold Star, Fit Friendly Company

The Houston Police department is committed to providing physical activity and wellness opportunities to it's employees. HPD has been recognized as a 2009 Gold Level Recipient of the American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Recognition program.

For more information please visit the American Heart Association at http://www.americanheart.org/