District J Patrol funds: Houston Police Department rejects city council member’s overtime pay for neighborhood patrol program

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A disagreement over how money should be spent led the Houston Police Department to reject overtime funds from a Houston city council member. ABC13’s partners at the Houston Chronicle first reported this story.

The program is called the District J Patrol.

District J runs along 59 on Houston’s southwest side and includes neighborhoods like Sharpstown and Gulfton.

The District J Patrol program was created by Councilmember Edward Pollard in 2020.

The idea, he says, was to set aside some of his council funds for HPD overtime so officers could address quality of life issues in the neighborhoods — like parking in the yard, panhandling, and trespassing – issues that would typically not get prioritized by HPD.

Recently, Pollard says, HPD has been using the money instead for other things. And now, HPD has decided to stop accepting the funds – basically ending the patrol – because they don’t believe Pollard should have a say in how the money is spent.

In emails shared with ABC13, one example outlined by HPD Executive Chief Hardin is the department’s request to use the money for their response to aggravated food truck robberies in the area, questioning Pollard, “But you really felt that District J Patrol was a better use of the funds?”

“I believe that if HPD is using council dollars, then they have to work with the council office on where those dollars are utilized. My office prioritizes the District J Patrol. We want the dollars that we give to HPD to go towards the District J Patrol,” Pollard said.

HPD declined to comment on the issue.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Pollard can’t mandate how HPD uses the money or interfere with public safety operations.