HPD officers working for the Westchase District Patrol routinely ticket and tow trucks and automobiles illegally parked throughout the District. Their efforts are part of an ongoing effort to improve safety and mobility. “Motorist visibility is so limited when these giant vehicles park on our narrow residential streets,” said Mark Hubenak, Westchase District’s vice president of public safety. It is a parking violation for 18-wheel vehicles to park for more than two hours on a…..Read More

Congratulations to 2828 at Royal Oaks, Westchase District’s latest Blue Star community. The Blue Star distinction is awarded by the Houston Police Department, only after a community has completed the three-part certification process, which includes manager training, an exterior inspection and resident education. Patti Melendy, community manager at 2828 at Royal Oaks, says the process was worth the end result. Melendy has been with the community since October of 2021, when her employer, Asset Living,…..Read More

The expression that it takes two to tango means that both people involved in a difficult situation must accept the blame. In the case of SEAL Security, officers are trained to not be half of the problem. Public safety officers never know what to expect when responding to a situation. Officers working for SEAL Security – the private security firm contracted by Westchase District – constantly train for the potential danger they face. A suspect…..Read More

In 2009, Somali pirates took Captain Phillips and his crew hostage. In a crisis that gripped headline news and spawned a Hollywood movie, Phillips’ ship, the Maersk Alabama, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. It was one of 20,000 merchant ships sailing through a vital artery of world trade that opened into two million square miles of water comprised of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. These acts of piracy posed…..Read More

As crime continues to inch upward in Houston, Westchase District is not immune from the problem. Westchase District’s Vice President of Public Safety Mark Hubenak meets daily with property owners and building managers to discuss their particular needs and make recommendations on how to get the most from their public safety efforts. Many properties employ security officers – either armed or unarmed personnel. “Whether you employ armed officers, unarmed officers, uniformed officers or plain-clothed officers,…..Read More

Criminal activity and public safety issues never take time off. Neither does Assistant Police Chief Ban Tien with the Houston Police Department. Chief Tien recently gave a 3 a.m. media briefing in the rain for an incident involving a distraught man allegedly threatening suicide. The crisis escalated with gunfire between the man and a responding officer. It’s a dangerous reality that situations can develop at any time and as an HPD senior leader, Tien thrusts…..Read More

Open your favorite news app or read the local newspaper and you’ll see plenty of news about catalytic converter thefts. An off-duty Harris County Sheriff’s deputy was killed recently as he attempted to intercede when he discovered thieves removing the catalytic converter on his personal vehicle while he and his wife were grocery shopping. Many of these thieves are targeting vehicle fleets and cars parked in office building parking garages or overnight at area hotels.…..Read More

City Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas is announcing several initiatives led by her office to increase safety and improve the quality of life for the residents of District F. These projects include a street light initiative for added lighting in dark  areas; a bus shelter program for added protection at METRO bus stops without coverings, and the installation of security cameras to capture surveillance in potentially dangerous areas. Council Member Thomas is inviting the District…..Read More

Making the community feel comfortable and safe If you thought Texas was just full of Texans or transplants from the West and Southwest, think again. S.E.A.L. Security Sergeant Jesus Quiñones hails from the Bronx, N.Y., where he grew up on 193rd Street, a block from Fordham University. The area was his home for 35 years. After working in New York City, Quiñones pursued work as an HVAC contractor in Flagler County in Florida. In need…..Read More

If you’ve visited Woodchase Park for any of the scheduled events since the park’s October opening, you’ve probably encountered one or more of our Guest Services Attendants (GSA). These newly-hired Westchase District employees are working to make sure guests enjoy their experience at the park. “Our new team members are all exceptional,” said Louis Jullien, parks programming director. “They not only help our programming partners set up their equipment and prepare for their activities, but…..Read More