13 Investigates how Houston police lowered crime in ‘crazy’ neighborhood

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — When Casey Stewart moved into his southeast Houston apartment complex two years ago, he said there were constant memorials for people killed in his neighborhood.

“It was crazy,” Stewart said. “Robbery is really bad around here.”

Stewart lives in the 10900 block of Gulf Freeway, which 13 Investigates identified as Houston’s most crime-ridden block in 2021.

Our investigation found 300 alleged offenses in that block alone during the first eight months of 2021.

Now, our 13 Investigates analysis of Houston Police Department crime data shows there were just 253 alleged offenses during the same time period this year.

HPD attributes the success in lowering crime in that neighborhood to additional patrols and resources in that community.

“They had the laws pass by every now and then, and they’ll post up in the office area right here at the corner on the street,” Stewart said. “It’s been pretty good.”

HPD’s Clear Lake Division Commander Claudia Cruz, who oversees the Gulf Freeway neighborhood, said it’s important for residents to feel secure with where they live.

After identifying that neighborhood as a crime hotspot, she said her goal was to increase police presence and do proactive work, including more community engagement.

Cruz said it’s important for officers to have good rapport with the community because “driving down crime is a shared responsibility.”

“That’s why this whole thing has been successful, is because everybody has a part to play, and if they hold themselves accountable to making sure that they’re doing their part, we can drive down the numbers in that area,” she said.

Despite improvements in that southeast Houston neighborhood, crime in more than half of Houston zip codes is up compared to five years ago.