HOUSTON – Crime Stoppers of Houston hosted a press conference Wednesday with Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and other area leaders to discuss public safety challenges and solutions.
Crime Stoppers also announced a “Houston Crime Index” from the organization’s new research center, which will provide more support for law enforcement. The Glenda Gordy Research Center has been launched as part of the Safe Community Institute to produce more digestible reporting on crime-related data.
The center will track crime trends and related data to show how it is affecting communities across the Houston area. The center’s website will be available in Fall 2022.
According to Crime Stoppers, aggravated assaults in Harris County have remained largely steady and high over the last year (January-May). The total number of aggravated assaults in 2021 between January and May was 10,521 between the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Stoppers officials said. The total number of aggravated assaults between January and May of 2022 was 10,167 (HPD and HCSO).
Mattress Mack said he’s used 25% of his advertising budget on Crime Stoppers ads to help combat crime.
“Houston put a man on the moon-- Why can’t we stop crime?” McIngvale asked during the press conference.