HOUSTON – The Houston Police Officers Union is telling members to request partnered patrol in the wake of the tragedy in Dallas.
"What we're instructing our officers do is request to be placed in two-man units and wait for backup responding to calls," Joe Gamaldi, HPOU 2nd vice-president, said.
Although the move is designed to improve officer safety, it could affect response times and coverage of the city.
"It may have some effect in our lesser type of calls but it's not affecting our emergency calls," Martha Montalvo, Acting Houston Police Chief, said.
On Friday, Montalvo said she was prepared to send psychologists, who have been employed by her department, to Dallas, at the request of the Dallas Police Chief.
Montalvo did not announce any official policy changes within the department but said that partnered patrol would be requested for the time being.
Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman Friday announced a list of operational changes for his deputies:
Effective immediately all commanders and shift supervisors are to conduct pre-shift inspections to ensure personnel are properly wearing their ballistic vests -- when applicable, their equipment is in proper working order and all safety precautions are sufficiently in place.
On patrol, the proper backup personnel are to be dispatched to assist any deputy -- regardless of the agency -- responding to a disturbance, suspicious activity, vehicle or person, or a situation involving violence or an elevated risk of violence.
Radio communications must be maintained at all times. Should a deputy leave radio communications, he/she shall notify communications of an alternate contact number.
Prior to participating in any public or known event, a proper operations plan and inspection of locations and routes shall be established.
Hickman and Montalvo were among a chorus of city and county leaders Friday calling for calm and solidarity among Houstonians.
"What I will say is that if we don't lower the rhetoric, if we don't recognize we are on the same team, and we don't work doubly hard, we will find ourselves working against our own best interests," Mayor Sylvester Turner said.