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Onward and Upward
By 1940, HPD had grown to 466 officers and had a budget of
$918,000. The increase in radios within the department caused several changes.
For instance the first PBX operator was hired to filter calls and prevent undue
delay in sending an officer to the call. Also, HPD began giving voluntary blood
tests to determine the degree of intoxication of suspected drunken drivers..
1945: The Birth of HPOA
In 1945, the formation of the Houston Police Officers Association
took place. Although this association was developed to assist officers, membership
during the first two years was discouraged. The officers organizing this group
had to "slip around" and meetings were often in secret. That was until 1947
when Governor Buford Jester signed into law the civil service bill known as
1269 M. This legislation gave valuable protection to union members and was
significant victory for the officers of the department.
HPOA Protection in Court
In 1948, a state referendum was passed that allowed aggrieved
police officers immediate access to the courts, which in turn gave them the
protection from arbitrary demotion by unregulated political powers.
1949: The Chief Steps In
Police Chief Payne distributed an eight-page pamphlet with
150 rules and regulations governing officer conduct and behavior.
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