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Montgomery City Council approves police captain, 4 additional police positions

Montgomery Police Department is set to restructure its leadership and bring on four additional hires after the council approved five positions during its Aug. 25 meeting.

Council approved the creation of one police captain position, three full-time public safety officer positions and one full-time police records clerk position. Each authorization takes effect Oct. 1.

The details: Police Chief Anthony Solomon said the department plans to promote someone internally to captain rather than hire externally. The captain will focus on administrative responsibilities, including grants, budgeting, recruitment, promotions and oversight of patrol operations.

“It’s becoming more of an administrative position, and so it’s time to make that change,” Solomon said.

Also of note: Council also approved three public safety officers who will primarily assist with jail operations.

According to the draft job description, their responsibilities will include booking and fingerprinting inmates, maintaining jail security, conducting cell searches, processing bonds and transporting inmates to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office detention center.

 
Key Information
Q&A: Meet the candidates for Texas House District 16

Incumbent Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, and Democratic challenger Bobbie Clayton will face off in the Nov. 3 general election for Texas House District 16.

What you need to know: District 16 spans northern Montgomery County and includes Conroe and Montgomery, according to a map of the district.

Metcalf, who has represented the district since 2015, defeated Jon Bouche in the March Republican primary. Clayton ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, setting up the November contest.

Early voting will run from Oct. 19-30, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Election Day is Nov. 3, and polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Montgomery County voters may cast ballots at any county early voting location. Election Day voting information will be available through the Montgomery County Elections website.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid criticizing their opponent. Responses may have been edited for length, to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Mariachi Festival

Cars and Coffee

Times vary
Houston

Aug. 29, 8:30-11 a.m.
Fulshear

Read on

Read on

 

Melon & Berry Festival

K-Pop Demon Hunter Day

Aug. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cypress

Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
New Caney

Read on

Read on

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Election News
Meet the candidates for U.S. House Texas District 38

Jon Bonck, Melissa McDonough, and Alex McMenemy are the three candidates running for U.S. House Texas District 38 in the Nov. 3 election. 

What you need to know 

Early voting begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. Election day is Nov. 3 and polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
 
Registered voters can cast their ballot at any polling location during early voting and on Election Day.

 
CI Texas
Texas senators weigh impact of driverless vehicles amid recent state regulations

Since late May, all autonomous vehicle companies have been required to receive authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to operate on Texas roads. During an Aug. 25 hearing, state senators heard the first testimony on autonomous vehicle safety since the new regulations took effect.

The overview: To date, the DMV has received 42 complaints about driverless vehicles, officials said.

No complaints have led the agency to suspend or revoke an autonomous vehicle operator's authorization. That occurs "when the operation has resulted in or is likely to result in serious bodily injury," according to Corrie Thompson, who leads the DMV’s enforcement division.

Zooming in: Lawmakers said they wanted to ensure driverless vehicles were not rolling out too quickly, adding that they they hoped the vehicles would help address Texas' high rate of fatal crashes.

Lt. William White, who leads the Austin Police Department’s highway enforcement division, said first responders have seen consistent issues with AVs, including when a Waymo blocked an ambulance for about 28 seconds following the deadly March 1 Sixth Street shooting.

 

Your local team

Jake Norman
Managing Editor

Chrissy Leggett
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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