Larry Vaughn had never seen a snow-capped mountain before leaving Alexandria, La., in 1988. After high school graduation and marrying his high school sweetheart, Vaughn enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to high altitude places. Years later, as a civilian, the mountains drew him back for a new adventure. “The Army gave me more discipline than my parents instilled in me,” said Vaughn. He credits the Army with teaching him things that benefited his…..Read More

This fall, Westchase District celebrates its 25th anniversary. The District was created by an act of the 74th Texas legislature and signed into law by then-Governor George W. Bush on June 12, 1995. The law became effective on August 28, 1995 and the newly-formed board of directors met for the first time on August 29, 1995. But Westchase District’s history hardly begins there. Early days The Westchase Business Council – the District’s predecessor organization –…..Read More

Anticipating an active year ahead for storms in the Atlantic, Houston TranStar reminds residents to prepare for the 2020 Hurricane Season by downloading its mobile app, a tool that shows real-time traffic data and estimates areas of roadway flooding risk during heavy rainfall. Developed in partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute after Hurricane Harvey, TranStar’s Roadway Flood Warning System displays real-time data from 283 weather sensors, an…..Read More

You could say Ana Bertens was worlds away before joining the Houston Police Department. Her unlikely path to law enforcement came while she traveled back and forth to live between two continents: North America and South America. Born in Santiago, Chile, Bertens’ parents brought her and her siblings to the United States in the 1990s where she spent half of her life between Florida and Houston. After turning 20, she moved back to Chile where…..Read More

Inspiration to become a police officer was always around a young Cody Thomas. “As soon as I could start making memories, I’ve always known I wanted to become a police officer,” said Thomas. That was at age four. His dream was boosted by many family role models. His father, who wasn’t a police officer, and two uncles at the Houston Police Department set an example by actions that he wanted to follow. Thomas recalls how…..Read More

The City of Houston is striving to create solutions for people experiencing homelessness. It's estimated that there are 4,400 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in Harris County, Fort Bend County and Montgomery County combined. Westchase District is not immune from the situation as more homeless encampments pop up in our area. To better understand the issue, Don McKinney, vice president of public safety for Westchase District, hosted a presentation by the Houston Police Department Homeless…..Read More

Sgt. Tyler Wilson of the Houston Police Department works double-duty as a lead officer in HPD’s Burglary & Theft Division and an officer of the Westchase District Patrol. He addressed a recent meeting of the Westchase District Public Safety Alliance with some common sense tactics to avoid becoming a victim of burglary or theft. Wilson acknowledged that his tips are already known to most people. “But we’re all busy and we’re all forgetful. We just…..Read More

          Cruise Control: HPD Lieutenant Paul George often can be seen cruising by the District’s trail system on patrol.   Over time, Westchase District has earned a reputation as a low crime area, thanks to the consistent efforts of the Westchase District Patrol. That success is tied directly to the high caliber of talented and ambitious patrol officers the District attracts. More than one quarter of the District’s patrol officers hold…..Read More

  As a teenager growing up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Angela Hart-Joseph was fascinated watching the psychological thriller film The Silence of the Lambs, featuring Jodie Foster as a young FBI trainee. “I was inspired seeing a strong female who could solve a case and bring killers to justice,” Hart-Joseph said. “That movie definitely pushed me in the direction of a career in law enforcement.” While her career so far hasn’t pitted her skills against any…..Read More

Safer by Design: Princina Brown-Thomas recently presented to District property managers about crime prevention through environmental design.   While many discussions about crime focus on arrest and punishment rather than prevention, the Houston Police Department’s CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) program seeks to reduce opportunities for crime by applying design principles that make it more difficult to carry out inappropriate activities.   Don McKinney, Westchase District’s vice president of public safety, recently hosted a…..Read More