Accomplishments Since Becoming Constable in 2017
- Reconstructed the Department's Criminal Investigation Division ensuring all Precinct 5 cases are investigated.
- Major Offenders Unit.
- Human Trafficking and Illegal Gambling Unit.
- Narcotics Unit.
- Uniformed Investigator Unit.
- Increased patrol personnel and created specialized units.
- Strategic Response Unit.
- Computer Crimes Unit.
- Child Abuse Task Force.
- Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
- Added Corporals to the Department's rank structure, creating advancement opportunities while providing additional first-line supervisors.
- Increased training opportunities for the Department including:
- Advanced supervisor development for all sergeants and above. (Usually reserved for Chiefs and above)
- De-escalation training department-wide.
- Numerous additional classes for specialized positions and/or divisions.
- Spearheaded Harris County's first Animal Cruelty Task Force.
- Created the Department's first Community Relations Division, and mandated the development of numerous outreach programs, including:
- The Citizens Police Academy.
- The Teen Police Academy taught in local high schools.
- Women's Self Defense R.A.D. Class.
- Active Shooter Training for businesses, churches, and schools.
- Personal Safety / Home Safety.
- Scouting Assistance Programs.
- Fraud and ID Theft prevention classes.
- Appointed Departmental cultural liaisons in order to better address the diverse concerns of the community.
- Created avenues of communication with the community through social media.
- Established the Business Interaction Program to handle the numerous concerns of local businesses.
- Brought the Department in under budget for the last two years.
You would be hard pressed to find a law enforcement agency, anywhere in the country, that has undergone such rapid change and growth in the two short years since Constable Heap took office. From top to bottom, in manpower, resources, training, policies and even identity, this Department has transformed its place in the community.
Knowing Precinct 5 already had a strong relationship with the community and was well respected wasn't good enough. Under Constable Heap's leadership the Department has reached a new level of service to the community.
Constable Heap began by giving the Department a new identity -- one that would encapsulate it's values and mission. During Precinct 5's first department-wide Oath of Office Ceremony in January of 2017, it was presented to the Department. The new patches, badges and vehicles proudly display the Department's new motto "Always Honor, Integrity, and Service."
Constable Heap had many changes in mind for Precinct 5, some that would come quickly and others taking a little more time. These changes were not about moving away from the Department's history but rather taking the best from it and building. Begining this journey on the right foot was just as important as the steps we would take to get there.
Strengthening the Department included strengthening the ranks. In the two years since Constable Heap took office he has sworn in over 100 new deputies to the Precinct 5 family. Increasing the number of deputies was only the begining, providing the very best in training came next. The annual training that Constable Heap requires for his deputies goes well beyond state standards for law enforcement.
In his first few months in office, Constable Heap mandated department-wide supervisor development training for all sergeants and above. Below are just a few examples of other training courses Precinct 5 deputies received.
- De-escalation Training (department-wide)
- K-9 Encounters (Patrol and Parks Divisions)
- Domestic Violence (Patrol and Parks Divisions)
- Crime Scene Investigation (Investigations Division)
- High Risk Vehicle Stops (Patrol, Parks, Toll Road)
- Taser Certifications (department-wide)
- Handgun Qualifications (department-wide)
- Rifle Qualifications
- Numerous other courses including specialized courses for select units or divisions.
Another way Constable Heap improved the Department's effectiveness was to add new classifications to it's structure. Corporals, Investigators, and Undercover Units all enhanced the Department's ability to serve the community.
Corporals provided a much needed increase in first-line supervision, and created opportunities for career advancement. This also provided an intermediate step to help deputies better prepare to transition into the responsibilities of a sergeant.
Uniformed Investigators provided the Department with the means to handle cases from begining to end. As a result literally hundreds of cases have been successfully closed with charges filed.
The Undercover Units fielded by Constable Heap cover very specific types of crimes such as narcotics, human trafficikng, and illegal gaming. You won't see or hear from these units, but you will hear about their effectivness in shutting down illegal activities that plague our community.
In 2017 alone, these specialized units worked over 1600 cases, leading to the arrest of hundreds of criminals. They closed the doors on numerous illegal establishments. They removed well over 600 pounds of illegal narcotics from our streets, removed hudrends of weapons and arrested numerous drug traffickers.
400 pounds of marijuana stashed in numerous suitcases, siezed by the Department's Narcotics Division, with the assistance of one of our K-9 units.
STRATEGIC RESPONSE UNIT
One of the most effective components in the fight against crime is the Strategic Response Unit (SRU). This Unit is deployed to areas experienceing a spike in criminal activity utilizing the latest crime analysis data.
Since it's creation in October of 2017, the SRU has initiated thousands of cases, making 234 felony arrests. This is in addition to their Precinct wide patrol duties, traffic enforcement, and assisting other divisions within the Department.
ANIMAL CRIMES UNIT
Working with animal advocacy organizations and individuals, Constable Heap spearheaded the creation of this specialized unit aimed at investigating and prosecuting crimes against animals. These Precinct 5 investigators possess a wealth of knowledge and experience with animals and crimes against them.
The work of this unit speaks for itself.
2018
- Investigated cases involving over 10,000 animals.
- Made a report on 2,960 cases.
- Issued 447 Class C Citations.
- Filed 200 criminal cases with the D.A.'s office.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIVISION
In recent decades, departments around the country have begun to explore ways to better serve their communities, giving rise to such concepts as community-oriented policing, and building bridges of understanding between departments and the community.
Constable Heap recognized that serving the community meant more than protecting it -- it meant becoming a part of it. To this end, he created the Department's first Community and Media Relations Division. This Division established numerous outreach and educational programs and tapped into the incredible power of social media in ways previously unrealized.
Among the most popular programs are our Citizens and Teen Police Academies. Aimed at giving participants a behind the badge view of law enforcement, they offer the perfect opportunity to narrow the gap that con sometimes exist between a police department and the community it serves.
Adult classes are conducted at our command station. Teen academies are conducted within local high schools and have grown from two classes in 2017 to six classes in 2018, and more projected for 2019.
Constable Heap believes in these programs so much that he takes an active part in them. Take a close look at the guy on the mat. Constable Heap and his wife, Jennifer, have played the role of suspects in every Citizen's Police Academy the department has conducted.
Another popular program is the R.A.D. class (Rape Aggression Defense). Starting with awareness and moving all the way to practical self-defense techniques, the R.A.D. class empowers women of all ages to protect themselves against aggression. Taught by female Precinct 5 deputies, all of which are certified R.A.D. instructors, classes fill quickly.
Other Programs Include:
- Active shooter response training for civilians
- Scouting assistance programs
- Childrens Programs (Hero Read, McGruff the Crime Dog)
- Fraud and ID theft awareness
- Home security inspections
- Assistance with hundreds of community events every year
- Working with local charity organizations such as the
Texas Special Olympics
There was a time when town sheriffs and marshals hung wanted posters of criminals around the area in order to alert the community and possibly gain information leading to their capture. Today law enforcement is begining to recognize the power of social media to do the exact same thing. Thanks to media hubs like Facebook and Next Door, we are able to keep neighborhoods informed about activity in their area, as well as generate leads on individuals that may be involved in criminal activity.
For example:
What started out as a citizen's complaint sent to the Department’s website turned into a big lead for the Precinct 5 Special Operations Division. Initially responding to a nuisance complaint, deputies quickly realized there was more to the story. Investigators were able to develop a case
for the manufacturing of narcotics and felony possession. The Narcotics Unit recovered multiple types of street drugs, illegal prescription drugs, and multiple high powered weapons. More importantly, they were able to remove some very dangerous people from one of our neighborhoods.
If you would like more information on the Department, or any of Precinct 5's programs or initiatives, please vist the Department website at www.constablepct5.com
