“If we can bring police into the area, we can drastically improve [crime]. It’ll be a lot better for the residents. All the businesses will make more money and [it] will be safe for staff,” said Jake Murray—owner of Roundhill Townhomes, a rental property in Cypress Station.
A community taking action
Located along the west side of I-45 where it intersects with FM 1960 in Spring, Cypress Station has been identified by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as one of the most dangerous areas in unincorporated Harris County, as previously reported by Community Impact. Since February, Murray said he has been working with about 25 other local business owners to tackle the area’s crime with the help of the HCSO, the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce and the CNP Utility District.
One of the ways the group hopes to improve safety in the area is by asking local landlords to raise their leasing standards so gang members cannot live in the local apartments, Murray said. Another approach the business owners have taken was asking the CNP Utility District to create a law enforcement contract for 10 deputies to patrol the area—an initiative that was approved by Harris County Commissioners Court on June 27.
The contract is unfunded by commissioners court, according to the motion. It is expected to cost about $4 million across the next five fiscal years, beginning in FY 2023-24, according to court documents. The contract with HCSO began July 15 and requires the 10 deputies to devote 80% of their time patrolling CNP Utility District's 712-acre coverage area, which includes Cypress Station, according to court documents.
While the 10 approved deputies are a good start, the group thinks 39 total are needed, Murray said.
“All the businesses are willing to pay for these police, but the only way you can do it is through the utility district,” Murray said.
County-led initiatives
Harris County entities have also been working to target violence in unincorporated areas, such as Cypress Station, said Lupe Washington, director of Harris County Public Health’s Community Health and Violence Prevention Services division.
Since its Nov. 1 launch, CHVPS’ Hospital-Linked Violence Interruption Program has served 82 victims of violence, such as gunshots, stabbings or aggravated assaults, Washington said. The program serves four ZIP codes in unincorporated Harris County—including ZIP code 77090, which covers Cypress Station—from HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest. The program was expanded to Ben Taub Hospital on May 22, Washington added.
This program is vital, Washington said, because data shows 40%-50% of victims of this type of violence will end up in the hospital for similar injuries within five years.
“We're excited to be leading these types of alternative programs that [are] complimentary to law enforcement, so that we can try and target violence from a public health perspective, helping people address the root causes of what can lead someone to either be a perpetrator or a victim of crime,” Washington said.
CHVPS—which is funded by $5 million dedicated annually from the county’s general fund—will be working on analyzing the data from the program during its initial year to see whether it has helped the community, Washington said.
