In a nutshell
At an Aug. 2 news conference, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Katy Police Chief J. Noe Diaz as the new chief of police for the Houston Police Department. The selection comes after former Police Chief Troy Finner announced his retirement in May, amid the city’s suspended case investigation, Community Impact reported.
Following the news conference, Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele announced in a news release Diaz’s resignation from the city effective mid-August, and promised a seamless transition period as the city looks to find a leader to uphold the standards and values of the department.
“Chief Diaz has been a remarkable public servant dedicating his career to the safety and well-being of our community,” he said in the release. “Under his leadership, our police force has become a model of excellence and a pillar for our city’s safety.
Looking back
Diaz began his tenure as Katy’s fourth police chief in March 2019 with goals to grow the department and keep response times low by splitting the growing city into four quadrants for better coverage, he told Community Impact in an April 2019 interview.
Prior to his time in Katy, Diaz served the Texas Department of Public Safety in various roles, including as a Texas Ranger, Community Impact reported. He also served at the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office and as a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
What they’re saying
Although Diaz will be making the move to the Houston Police Department, Thiele said he knows Diaz will bring the same dedication and excellence to the city of Houston.
“The city’s loss is undoubtedly the city of Houston’s gain, and we wish Chief Diaz all the best in his new role as the city of Houston police chief,” Thiele said in the release. “With Chief Diaz at the helm, a safer Houston is a safer Katy.”
What’s next?
Diaz’s resignation will be effective Aug. 14, according to the statement.
Community Impact reached out to the city of Katy to obtain more information about an interim chief appointment and timeline for a police chief search, but the information was not returned by press time.
