Harold Hurtt
Encyclopedia
Harold L. Hurtt, is a Director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
as director for the Office of State and Local Coordination. Which includes outreach programs and coordinating communications between Law enforcement of various outside agencies. Hurt previously served as The Houston Police Department
's police chief from 2004 until 2009.
in sociology
from Arizona State University
in 1977 and an M.A.
in organizational management from the University of Phoenix
in 1991.
This resulted in a group of African American officers to file a lawsuit claiming that they have skin conditions called Pseudofolliculitis barbae
or Acne keloidalis nuchae
that makes it painful to shave. The city supported Chief Hurtt's new policy and approved $150,000 for legal defense against the suit. The suit was eventually tossed out.
area and free up Police officers who otherwise would be directing traffic around accidents and major events. The department was started with 21 personnel and a $1.8 Million budget a year.
On March 3, 2009 March 3, A series of investigative reports by KTRK
's Wayne Dolcefino
put in question on the effectiveness, ethics, and work practices of The Mobility Response Team. After the report, one supervisor has been reassigned and the whole MRT unit faced an internal affairs investigation.
, refusing to hand over arrested illegal aliens over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE), which have brought Houston to the status of being called a sanctuary city
. In 2006, Houston police officer Rodney Johnson was shot four times in the head during a routine traffic stop by a once-deported illegal alien who had been arrested and released three times in the city. His widow, Joslyn Johnson, herself a sergeant in the Houston PD, filed suit against Hurtt, the city and the police department, stating that the department's failure to discover the gunman's immigration status and report him to federal authorities enabled him to stay "at large" in the country. Hurtt's policies have been blamed for enabling illegal immigrants to kill two police officers and seriously injure another in Phoenix, Arizona
before he left in 2005.
, that candidates Peter Hoyt Brown
, Annise Parker
, and Roy Morales
said that they would replace Hurtt if they become mayor. Upon Annise Parker's win, Hurtt tendered his resignation on December 15, to be effective on the 30th. Hurtt was replaced with interim police chief, Charles McClelland, a 33 year veteran of the force.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
as director for the Office of State and Local Coordination. Which includes outreach programs and coordinating communications between Law enforcement of various outside agencies. Hurt previously served as The Houston Police Department
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
's police chief from 2004 until 2009.
Career
Hurtt started his career after being his service in the Air force in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968, going through the ranks until he became the Assistant Chief. In 1992, he accepted the Chief position for the Oxnard, California, and then in 1998 was hired by Phoenix Police Department. as chief.Education
Hurtt earned a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in 1977 and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in organizational management from the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
in 1991.
Dress code and Facial beard controversy
Shortly after taking office, he required police to cover up tattoos with long sleeves, if needed. Additionally, he required all facial hair to be removed, citing that it would prevent gas masks to be used effectively.This resulted in a group of African American officers to file a lawsuit claiming that they have skin conditions called Pseudofolliculitis barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae
Pseudofolliculitis barbae , also known as barber's itch, folliculitis barbae traumatica, razor bumps, scarring pseudofolliculitis of the beard, and shave bumps, is a medical term for persistent irritation caused by shaving....
or Acne keloidalis nuchae
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Acne keloidalis nuchae is a destructive scarring folliculitis that occurs almost exclusively on the occipital scalp of people of African descent, primarily men...
that makes it painful to shave. The city supported Chief Hurtt's new policy and approved $150,000 for legal defense against the suit. The suit was eventually tossed out.
Tasers
Houston became the first major city in the nation to fully arm the entire Police Department with tasers with the passage of an authorization of $4.7 million in November 2004, which was a result of a controversial shooting the previous year. Chief Hurtt, was hoping to repeat the success he had when he was Chief of the Phoenix Police Department with reducing police shootings.Evidence facility compromised
Because of missing evidence in several cases, including missing drugs and guns, the chief eventually ordered a new evidence building that was completed in 2009.Crime Lab
Chief Hurtt was initially brought in to help bring the lab back from scandals involving that left many cases suspect. Within two years, the crime lab regained its accreditation and returned to full operation.Mobility Response Team
On July 2, 2007, Mayor White and Chief Hurtt unveiled the Mobility Response Team (MRT). The new teams responds to various traffic issues around the immediate Downtown HoustonDowntown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
area and free up Police officers who otherwise would be directing traffic around accidents and major events. The department was started with 21 personnel and a $1.8 Million budget a year.
On March 3, 2009 March 3, A series of investigative reports by KTRK
KTRK-TV
KTRK-TV, channel 13, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Houston, Texas...
's Wayne Dolcefino
Wayne Dolcefino
Wayne Dolcefino is an Emmy Award-winning news reporter for KTRK-TV ABC-13 in Houston, Texas, USA. As the investigative reporter for "13 Undercover," he is responsible for a number of civic and consumer investigations....
put in question on the effectiveness, ethics, and work practices of The Mobility Response Team. After the report, one supervisor has been reassigned and the whole MRT unit faced an internal affairs investigation.
Criticism
Hurtt has been widely criticised for his policies condoning illegal immigrationIllegal immigration to the United States
An illegal immigrant in the United States is an alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa....
, refusing to hand over arrested illegal aliens over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
(ICE), which have brought Houston to the status of being called a sanctuary city
Sanctuary city
Sanctuary city is a term given to a city in the United States that follows certain practices that protect illegal immigrants. These practices can be by law or they can be by habit...
. In 2006, Houston police officer Rodney Johnson was shot four times in the head during a routine traffic stop by a once-deported illegal alien who had been arrested and released three times in the city. His widow, Joslyn Johnson, herself a sergeant in the Houston PD, filed suit against Hurtt, the city and the police department, stating that the department's failure to discover the gunman's immigration status and report him to federal authorities enabled him to stay "at large" in the country. Hurtt's policies have been blamed for enabling illegal immigrants to kill two police officers and seriously injure another in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
before he left in 2005.
Resignation
It was reported that during the 2009 Houston Mayoral ElectionHouston mayoral election, 2009
The Houston Mayoral Election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009, to elect the successor to incumbent Mayor Bill White. White was ineligible for re-election, having served three terms. The race is officially nonpartisan...
, that candidates Peter Hoyt Brown
Peter Hoyt Brown
Peter Hoyt Brown is a politician who held office as an at-large Council Member in the city of Houston, Texas. He was a candidate for the 2009 Houston Mayoral race, to succeed then Mayor Bill White who vacate the position due to term limits...
, Annise Parker
Annise Parker
Annise Danette Parker is an American politician and the mayor of Houston since January 2, 2010. She served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and city controller from 2004 to 2009...
, and Roy Morales
Roy Morales
Roy Morales is a Harris County, Texas school board trustee and a retired air force lieutenant colonel. He was a Republican candidate in the 2009 Houston Mayoral Election, which he lost to Annise Parker.-Early life and career:...
said that they would replace Hurtt if they become mayor. Upon Annise Parker's win, Hurtt tendered his resignation on December 15, to be effective on the 30th. Hurtt was replaced with interim police chief, Charles McClelland, a 33 year veteran of the force.