ABOUT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

2016 First Hispanic Chief of Police appointed
2015 HPD Headquarters at 1200 Travis was renamed to Edward A. Thomas Building
2010 Fondren Substation opened
2009 Special Crimes Division formed and new Property Room opened
2008 SWAT introduced the “BEAR”, a new 12-ton armored vehicle
2007 Mobility Response Team formed
2006 Houston Police Foundation established

1998 HPD Officers received first labor contract
1997 1200 Travis dedicated as HPD Headquarters
1995 Women made up over 10% of police force
1993 Special Response Group (SRG) formed
1990 First female Chief of Police appointed
1989 HPD Citizens’ Police Academy established
1982 First African-American Chief of Police appointed
1981 Riesner Police Academy replaced with new modern Academy
1978 Department hired a psychologist to screen applicants
1977 HPD started field training program and Internal Affairs Division established
1975 Special Weapons and Tactical Squad (SWAT) formed
1970 Helicopter Patrol Division created with 3 leased helicopters

1967 Community Relations Divsion created
1966 Bomb Squad formed
1965 Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) formed
1960 Central Intelligence Division created
1957 Civilian Jailers hired
1954 Females were once again allowed to join HPD
1953 First African-American female police officer started in the Juvenile Division
1952 New police headquarters at 61 Riesner opens
1945 Houston Police Officers Association (HPOA) created

1939 First academy class, a 5-week academy held at the Sam Houston Coliseum
1937 Accident Division established
1936 Missing Persons Division formed
1930 Homicide Division established and North Side opened as the 3rd substation
1928 HPD hired women as Matrons, to be responsible for young females and juvenile boys and girls
1927 Mounted Traffic Squad established in downtown, first radios installed in patrol cars
1918 First female officer was hired and assigned to the Public Moral and Safety Squad
1909 First motorcycle purchased
1910 First automobile purchased and first Traffic Squad formed
1900 City Marshal title was changed to Chief of Police
1873 Police force consisted of the City Marshal and 12 officers
1841 First City Marshal elected and Houston Police Department was founded
1837 First constable hired in Houston