POLICE Department

HPD Now Offers After-Hours Assistance, Extends Office Hours

January 23, 2017 - Beginning TODAY, (January 23) at 5 p.m., news media can call a designated after-hours phone number to get active call slip information. 

The HPD Command Center will take media calls from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday.  The designated number, 713-308-8870, is to assist news desks with information regarding active scenes. 

Personnel will only be available to speak regarding active calls for service and are not able to run offense reports for additional information.  As is standard practice, media will still need to go to the scene to receive more detailed information from investigators.  Additionally, Command Center personnel are not available to enterprise stories or handle after-hours interview requests.  The after-hours PIO will still assist with all other normal after-hours duties.

In addition, HPD is now tweeting information regarding active crime scenes from the department's Twitter account @houstonpolice.  The Twitter account, along with the additional after-hours number, should provide timely and accessible information to news media after normal office hours.

These changes accompany the previously announced extended office hours in the HPD Media Relations Unit.  Public information officers are now available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and during the noon hour. 
Please note the new after-hours Command Center number, 713-308-8870, but also continue to utilize the PIO after-hours number at 713-308-4646 to determine which PIO is on call.