The Houston Police Officers Union is providing temporary housing, food and clothing to the Louisiana relatives of Houston officers and families of law officers evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.

The Houston Police Officers Union is providing temporary housing, food and clothing to the Louisiana relatives of Houston officers and families of law officers evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.

HPOU President Hans Marticiuc said a large number of officers in the 4,900-member organization literally opened their homes, extra rooms and garage apartments to evacuees.

“Everyone we’re dealing with is a member of a law enforcement family.

“One officer has 10 adults and two teenagers sleeping on air mattresses throughout her home,” Marticiuc said. “We are providing them with food, clothes and the air mattresses. We will accommodate the families of these officers for as long as needed.”

The Union president estimated that HPOU – supported by a special dues assessment for the Katrina cause – has helped gather food, toiletries, clothing and housing for almost 2,000 people of all ages. Most are from the immediate families of Louisiana law enforcement officials who were forced to relocate just like the thousands of civilians.

Others are relatives of Houston officers who reside in southern Louisiana and Mississippi.

“We’ve helped to troubleshoot problems centering around the immediate family needs of officers and sheriff’s deputies who went all of last week going beyond the call of duty under marshal law.

“During all this time they knew they likely had no home to go to,” Marticiuc said. “Keeping their families together is a high priority. It’s our duty to help in this effort.”

Through HPOU’s impromptu clothing drive, the HPOU has filled three rooms with clothing for people of all ages, from infants to older adults. The donations have come from Houston officers, their families and friends.

One Houston officer and his uncle and father – both HPD retirees – will house up to 40 Louisiana family members who sought refuge from Katrina in the Bayou City.

HPOU First Vice President J. J. Berry, the primary point person in the coordinated effort, said up to 50 Houston officers have opened extra rooms and sleep facilities to evacuees free of charge.

Berry said the Union is helping many Louisiana officers find temporary housing for their families, enabling them to return to duty in the hurricane-devastated New Orleans area. He also was dealing out $100 debit cards from a local grocery chain to these family members with the ease and dexterity of a professional poker dealer.

“Police officers are part of the world’s largest brotherhood,” Berry said. “These are ‘our family members’ from Louisiana, most of whom have losses so large we can’t imagine the extent of their personal tragedies. We will continue to help in every way possible.”

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