Houston moving $4.1M of CARES Act money to push back on rising crime during pandemic

However Mayor Sylvester Turner introduced a brand new initiative that would assist battle crime and reduce numbers, particularly throughout this pandemic.

“Sadly, main cities throughout the nation, together with Houston, are experiencing a rise in homicides, shootings and different crimes in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Turner stated throughout a briefing on Monday. “There isn’t any denying that the virus has contributed to anxiousness and stress all through as folks deal with job losses, feeling of isolation, the sickness or loss of life of family members, youngsters studying nearly, and worry of the unknown.”

In line with a tweet from Turner, the town will put $four.1 million of CARES Act funding into the initiative.

These had been the six elements of the Houston-area that the town noticed as violent crime hotspots as of late:

• West facet
• South Gessner
• North Belt

• Southeast Houston
• South Central
• Midwest

Beginning Monday, Turner stated there shall be an extra 110 officers deployed every day to these areas to assist cut back crime.

“HPD is anticipating an upward development of COVID-19 and the town of Houston, as colleges and companies start to open, and fairly frankly, because the hardship brought on by this pandemic continues,” Turner stated. “General, violent crime is up 11% within the metropolis of Houston, and we need to do every part we will of the subsequent two and a half months to attempt to dampen that.”

These 110 officers deployed will keep in place for the rest of the yr.

“That is our metropolis and we should work collectively. As mayor, I cannot tolerate lawlessness or indifference. Collectively, we should make our neighborhood safer,” Turner wrote on Twitter.

Observe Miya Shay on Fb, Twitter and Instagram.

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