Houston murder numbers are down from where they were last year. But, there's more to the story.
Through December 19th of this year, the city recorded 339 murders. That is down from 427 through the same period last year. But in 2019., the last year before COVID, that number was 274. That fact is not escaping Doug Griffith with the Houston Police Officers Union.
"We've got the Goerge Floyd effect of 2020, which pushed a lot of officers out of the profession. We also have rogue DA's that are allowing criminals to stay on the streets," Griffith said.
But there is hope, Griffith says incoming Mayor John Whitmire will make crime his top priority.
"He is laser focused and wants to do whatever it will take to try and get some of these violent offenders off the street," Griffith stated.
Whitmire takes office on Tuesday.