- 
      - **  Home
      - **   About Us
      - **  Archives
      - **  News
      - **  Publications

### Contact Us

To provide feedback on the Community Policing Dispatch, e-mail the editorial board at CPDispatch@usdoj.gov.

To obtain details on COPS Office programs, publications, and resources, contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov

**U.S. Department of Justice**                    Office of Community Oriented Policing Services                    145 N Street, N.E.                     Washington, DC 20530 www.cops.usdoj.gov

            - Home
            - About Us
            - Archives
            - News
            - Publications
            - Contact Us

###  Law Enforcement Spotlight: Houston Alianza Against Crime 

 July 2017 | Volume 10 | Issue 7

The Alianza Against Crime initiative is focused on enhancing the  partnership between members of the Houston, Texas East End community and law  enforcement through open bilingual dialogue and positive interaction. The  Alianza, or alliance, will host five large-scale community events, one per  month from June through September, in the five geographic beats of the HPD  Eastside Division, culminating in a combined event for National Night Out. 

**Program goals**

The Alianza’s main goal is to empower members of the community,  including non-English speaking individuals, in becoming actively involved in  open dialogue with members of the Houston Police Department (HPD). It is also intended to provide crime  prevention tips and resources to community members, enhance trust, and promote  the department’s longstanding outreach initiative, the Positive Interaction  Program. The HPD Explorers and neighborhood civic clubs also take part.

**Background**

Houston’s East End is a predominantly Hispanic area with more than  116,000 Hispanic residents, most of them Spanish-speaking. Officers heard a  growing concern from community members about recent state and potential federal  directives. To address these concerns and allay local apprehension towards  police, the officers in the East End created the Alianza to add a new,  proactive initiative to their community-oriented policing strategies.

**Alianza Against Crime is born**

The initiative began on May 6, 2017, at Mason Park, a city park in the  neighborhood. The first community event combined proactive and reactive  activities: an open town hall forum for community and police dialogue, a  resource fair, and stationary displays and hands-on activities hosted by HPD divisions.  It had a formal sign-in count of 120 people, with an estimated 200 in  attendance.

**Town hall forum**

At the forum, residents were able to ask questions directly to  panelists from organizations including the Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office, the  Mexican Consulate, the 3-1-1 City Helpline, and the Houston Department of  Neighborhoods. The HPD was represented by Chief of Police Arturo Acevedo,  Executive Assistant Chief Finner, Assistant Chief Williams, and Captain Cantu.  Panelists fielded questions from the audience on topics ranging from  quality-of-life issues, speeding vehicles, narcotics complaints, and  information on the passage of Texas SB4. 

**Resource Fair**

At the Resource Fair, civic organizations—including many of those  participating in the forum—set up booths to answer questions and  provided helpful information to the public. Topics included how to report  illegal dumping to the 3-1-1 City Helpline and how to report gang activity to  the Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office. 

**Interactive demonstrations**

The demonstration areas included offerings from the HPD SWAT, Mounted  Patrol, Hostage Negotiation Team, Air Support unit, and K-9 unit. As well as  teaching residents about police operations, these demonstrations gave the  community a prime opportunity to interact with police one-on-one. “The main  reason for having these events with the police, is to create an atmosphere of  trust between the Hispanic community and local officials, it is a way to make  our communities safer”, said Jay Deleon, a Houston resident.           There were also events for children, such as a face-painting booth.  The HPD Explorer program played an integral role, assisting in handing out  trinkets, police-themed wristbands, candy, stickers, and HPD autograph books. 

**Community Response**

“As a community leader in the Mason Park community, I want to commend  all law enforcement agencies in taking time from their busy schedules and  personal lives to promote a positive influence in the community.” Elisa  Gonzalez, President, East Lawndale Civic Association. 

“Tremendous opportunity for the public, especially young adults and  children, to interact with law enforcement, especially with our local police  officers.” Marilu De La Fuente, Treasurer and Secretary, Eastside Positive  Interaction Program

“Alianza Against Crime is a superb event that allows residents to meet  the law enforcement personally addressing real life situations in a changing  world.” Victor Villareal, President, Greater Magnolia Park Civic Club 

“Me gustó la información y traje a mi familia para que podrían  escuchar a los lideres de la comunidad y su visión” (I liked the information  the leadership offered and I brought my family so that they could be aware of  the vision of our leadership.) Pablo Toscano, Magnolia Park Resident. 

“Hable con el jefe de policia, y me dio gusto que estan colaborando  con el Consulado de Mexico” (I spoke with the police chief and I liked that he  has been working closely with the Mexican Consulate.) Antonio Torres, event  attendee.

“Big shout out to the Eastside Division for their work to organize  Alianza Contra El Crimen [Alianza/Alliance Against Crime]! Eastside’s proactive  efforts are vitally important to strengthening community-police relationships.”  Robert Gallegos, Houston City Council Member.

“The Alianza Against Crime is a fantastic way for the community and  the police to get together for the purpose of uniting against crime! Alianza is  also an opportunity to build and strengthen the police-community relationship,  creating stronger bonds of trust and getting to know our neighbors.” Bruce  Williams, Assistant Chief of Police.

“The event was formed to help ease fear in the community and  strengthen the relationship with them. I know that the fear is real, I have  witnessed it first-hand. I grew up in this neighborhood, and it effects  everyone.” Patricia Cantu, Captain, HPD.

“Well organized with agencies that communities need to get familiar  with and a very personalized way of meeting the new Chief of Police.” Maria  Bolanos, Mayor’s Citizen Assistance Office.

“A very informative and fun event for the community to come together.”  Maritza Pedraza, Department of Neighborhoods.

Officer Jason CisnerozHouston Police Department Eastside Division
Tweet

**Subscribe to Email Updates**
To sign up for monthly updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

**Explore**
            - Home
            - About Us
            - Archives
            - News
            - Publications
            - Contact Us

**
Connect With Us 
**
Want to stay connected with the COPS office? Follow us on social media!
            - 
            - 
            - 
- 
- 
- 

             FOIA 

             No FEAR Act 

             Open Government 

             Plain Writing 

             USA.gov 

             Legal Policies and Disclaimers 

             Language Access Plan 

             DOJ Privacy Policy