H.R. No. 1248
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Houston Police Department formed a Mental Health
Unit in 2007 to develop, implement, and manage the department's
multifaceted specialized response strategies for individuals in
serious mental health crises; and
WHEREAS, The Mental Health Unit is now a state and national
model, having trained the first group of Crisis Intervention Team
officers in the San Antonio and Austin Police Departments, as well
as numerous law enforcement officers and mental health
professionals across the state and nation; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Houston became one of six police
departments nationally to be designated as a Learning Site by the
United States Council of State Governments; as such, the department
provides crisis intervention training and educational materials to
law enforcement officers and mental health personnel from across
the country and hosts site visits for them to learn about its
programs; and
WHEREAS, The Mental Health Unit has collaborated with
criminal justice, mental health, and advocacy organizations in
Houston and throughout Harris County to develop a number of
state-of-the-art programs; among them are the Crisis Intervention
Response Team, which pairs a Houston Mental Health Peace Officer
with a licensed professional counselor from the Mental Health
Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County to provide a highly
specialized response to individuals in the most serious mental
health crises, and the Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative, a
proactive program to keep chronic consumers out of crisis with
intensive case management; this initiative, which has reduced the
number of calls-for-service to individuals on its caseload by as
much as 70 percent, was recognized with the prestigious 2010
International Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing
Award and was a finalist for the Herman Goldstein Award for
Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the Mental Health Unit implemented a
Homeless Outreach Team with the mission of improving the lives of
homeless Houstonians and reducing their numbers by helping them
overcome the barriers that keep them homeless; during its first two
years, the Homeless Outreach Team found housing for more than 200
homeless individuals and referred over 1,000 individuals to local
service providers, thereby connecting them with physical and mental
health care; and
WHEREAS, In addition to these endeavors, the City of Houston
collaborated with community organizations to open the Houston
Center for Sobriety, a facility closely aligned with the Houston
Police Department's Mental Health Unit, and the unit's manager,
Lieutenant Mike Lee, was instrumental in its design, development,
and implementation; the center serves as an alternative to jail for
people who are publicly intoxicated, as they can remain in the
facility until sober; they are subsequently counseled for alcohol
and substance abuse problems and provided with referral information
for follow-up counseling and treatment; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Chief of Police Charles
A. McClelland, Jr., Executive Assistant Chief Timothy
N. Oettmeier, and Mental Health Unit Manager Lieutenant Michael
A. Lee, the Houston Police Department's Mental Health Unit
continues to exemplify excellence and innovation through
collaboration and commitment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby commend the Houston Police Department's Mental
Health Unit for its service to the community, mental health
professionals, and the criminal justice system and extend to all
those associated with the unit sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the unit as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Walle
J. Davis of Harris
S. Davis of Harris
Elkins
Harless
Hernandez Luna
Vo
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1248 was adopted by the House on April
4, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas