The Houston Police Department’s Westside Command Station is the city’s largest, serving a population of 300,000 people (plus businesses, visitors and more) with a staff of about 300 officers per day in addition to a civilian support team. Its boundaries are I-10 on the north, South Gessner on the east, the I-59/69 on the south and Hwy. 6 on the west.

Commander Reece Hardy

Its new commander is Reece Hardy, who told us himself and his role in this question and answer session:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I grew up not too far from here, in Missouri City. I attended the University of Texas at Austin, before transferring to the University of Houston-Downtown where I obtained my bachelors and masters. My first job in law enforcement was in Missouri City.

I did leave law enforcement for a short period but found myself back in the field when I realized this was really my passion. I entered the HPD academy, sort of a little older than most of my fellow cadets. I was  30 when I joined in 2008.

I served in several roles with the department before taking a sergeant position in southeast patrol, which is the same area where I started when joining the force.

One of my favorite roles was being a part of the public safety planning for the Super Bowl that was held in Houston along with the Final Four that the city hosted. Following this I was promoted to lieutenant in 2017 and asked to start in the Special Investigation Unit. I served in other roles until I became a commander in April of this year, and two months ago, I was assigned as commander here in Westside.

Q:What are your responsibilities as commander?

A: I am responsible for the overall operation of the division. For a patrol division there are a lot of components within that division. What you typically think of are the patrol officers. Those that respond to the 911 calls, do traffic stops, things like that. We have three shifts a day, evening, and night.

Just a note, Westside’s evening shift is the largest in the department/city. That shift is about 100 officers. In addition to our patrol shifts, we have a Crimes Suppression Team. This is the proactive unit. These are the folks chasing the aggravated robbery suspects, serving warrants in the middle of the night, doing pro-active work with our other divisions like Narcotics, Major Offenders and Vice. 

Also, we have a Community Services Unit which entails our DRT, or Differential Response Team. The DRT looks at unique problem-solving solutions to crimes. Looking at ways to fight crime using non-traditional tools like with city ordinances, environmental design, work with the county and city for business foreclosures that are not doing business the right way, like promoting criminal activity on their property. There is a lot of community engagement with our DRT piece.

These are the folks that work with management districts, Super Neighborhoods  and others.  They develop plans that address concerns in this specific community. 

Q: What can residents and businesses people do to support you and your officers?

A: What I would ask citizens to be is more involved in groups like your Homeowners Associations, civic groups, and Super Neighborhood. Go to the meetings. Many of the meetings are virtual so you can log on. Our DRT are usually there also, and I will be at some, so you can talk to me directly. This is a great way to interact with us. 

When I attend, I write down every single issue that is brought up and make sure that we are following up on it. Maybe you have an ongoing issue in the neighborhood or in your complex;  do not assume that we already know. We get such great support, just recently we received a $100,000 check from the International Management District for overtime to help work specifically in the IMD area.

Q: Chief Troy Finner spoke at a town hall meeting over the summer in our area, he talked about PIP, what is that?

A: PIP is the department’s Positive Interaction Program. Each patrol division has monthly meetings with the public. We invite all the citizens to attend. We will have a guest speaker or topic that we feel is relevant at that time. You can find out more about PIP by visiting the department website. 

Anything you are looking forward to creating now that you are in the new position? Any plans?

Commander Hardy: I have a whole whiteboard full of plans (he laughs). And we have several initiatives that we have received funding for and are working to implement. I have a program that, without giving specifics because we are still in the planning stages, will work with young people in our area who have been affected by crime one way or another. 

Commander Hardy takes great pride in the job that his officers do in working with such a diverse community. Many of his officers speak multiple languages to better serve the public. Although diversity of Westside officers was already in place way before his leadership, he recognizes that the makeup of his officers really reflects the community it serves. He looks forward to serving the community and further developing the police-public partnership. 

Welcome to the Westside, Commander Hardy!

— by Jessika Leal