The Brief
- METRO Police Chief Ban Tien addressed the agency’s Public Safety Committee just a week after a fatal shooting on the transit system left one woman dead and a teenager injured.
- In a statement provided ahead of the meeting, METRO officials detailed “actionable changes” already implemented.
- The committee also considered a major contract for Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc. that would provide unarmed security guard services.
HOUSTON – METRO Police Chief Ban Tien defended the agency’s safety record and unveiled a “hotspot” strategy Wednesday, just one week after a fatal shooting on a city bus sparked renewed fears over transit violence.
The presentation to METRO’s Public Safety Committee was the first since the Jan. 7 shooting that left one woman dead and a teenager wounded. Tien, a former HPD Assistant Chief who took the helm in late 2024, acknowledged the tragedy and emphasized the statistics of violent crime that may happen on the system.
The “Hotspot” Strategy
What they’re saying:
While addressing the committee, Chief Tien was candid about the limitations of law enforcement in a city the size of Houston.…