S.E.A.L Security Solutions Pilot Program ReportIII. Final Disposition Incidents are dei ned by their...

S.E.A.L Security Solutions

Pilot Program Reportas of Three Months ended March 31, 2017

Prepared by the Public Safety CommitteeUse Limitations Disclaimer: Prepared by volunteers and not Midtown Management District and made available

for general reference purposes. This report neither represents, nor warrants 100% data accuracy, or

completeness, nor will the author accept liability of any kind in conjunction with its use.

I. Background and Overview

What prompted Midtown to seek private security?

The Midtown community has experienced a variety of public safety issues over the years. However, the catalyst that helped

solidify the decision to hire a private security agency came during the summer of 2016 after 17 people at Herman Park were

hospitalized due to overdosing on Kush, a synthetic cannabinoid. In Midtown, Wheeler Station, and its surrounding area became

the hot spot for selling, buying, and smoking Kush. At the time, “the Houston Fire Department’s Station 8, downtown, responded

to more Kush-related calls than in any other month this year: 582 total, or about 19 Kush calls each day, according to paramedics

at the station. Half of the city paramedics’ 3,000 ambulance runs for drug overdoses since last September are attributed to Kush.

The calls are often concentrated in the same hot spots in downtown and Midtown (Houston Press, August 2016).” Furthermore,

the growing public safety concerns brought to the attention through public meetings regarding the homeless population under

US Highway 59 and aggressive panhandling became the center of attention that has resulted in City Council passing ordinances

banning homeless camps and panhandling.

Purpose of this report

To determine the impact of S.E.A.L. Security Solutions, LLC patrol activities in the Midtown community at the midpoint of

the six month pilot program. At this stage of development, the pilot program may solicit feedback from board members and

constituents to enhance, review, and revise the program for further development in the coming months to maintain and grow

relationships with S.E.A.L and the Midtown community.

Intended use

The intended use of this report is to foster transparency and provide an overview of S.E.A.L’s documented incidents in

Midtown for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Program description

In response to rising public safety concerns, Midtown Management District (MMD) began a six month private security pilot

program on December 28, 2016. The S.E.A.L private security mission is to, “dissuade, discourage, and prevent crime” within the

Midtown boundaries. S.E.A.L provides a hotline number (832-900-7700) available to Midtown residents and businesses. S.E.A.L

patrols hot spot areas, management owned parks, single and multi-family dwellings. Area Classifications: Midtown can be divided

into Four Quadrants and Main St. Corridor. Quadrant 1 is North of Elgin St. and West of Main St. Quadrant 2 is North of Elgin St.

and East of Main St. Quadrant 3 is South of Elgin St. and West of Main St. Quadrant 4 is South of Elgin St. and East of Main St.

Main St. Corridor is Main St. and 1000 Block of cross streets.

Per the contract S.E.A.L provides two Patrol Officers 40 hours per week each working in tandem along with their K-9 in

marked vehicles to patrol Midtown totaling 80 hours of service per week. S.E.A.L will provide a visible presence, and will deter,

observe, report, and arrest when necessary.

S.E.A.L attends monthly MMD Board meetings, Public Safety Committee meetings, participates in Safety Saturday and Coffee

with a Cop Park Programs. In addition, S.E.A.L has met at the request with Public Safety Committee Chairs on three occasions.

As the program matures, the program description will progress, is not meant to be static but an ever evolving program that

may change according to the needs of the midtown community.

Dataset and methods

The data in this report includes information provided by S.E.A.L’s incident reports for the months of January 2017, February

2017, and March 2017. Tableau data visualization software is used for compiling, analyzing and reporting.

Various methodologies have been incorporated including, but not limited to, incident counts, classifying incident and crime

type, incidents by time, and incidents by day of week, classifying final disposition, and hotspots as defined by highest count of

recorded incidents.

A certain level of judgment had to be exercised in creation of this report, specifically the categorizations of incident types,

crime types and final dispositions.

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Use Limitations Disclaimer: Prepared by volunteers and not Midtown Management District and made available



II. Incident and Crime Types

Over the 3 month period ended January 1 - March 31, 2017,

S.E.A.L Security addressed 344 incidents in Midtown.

90%, or approximately 9 out of 10 times S.E.A.L attended to

quality of life issues, which are primarily incidents of disorder.

The remaining 10% incidents being 8% 911 & Other, 2%

Property crime, and less than 1% Violent crime.

Incident type is further classifi ed by crime type.

Quality of Life incidents are described as disorder (trespassing,

sleeping/sitting in prohibited area, panhandling) and involving alcohol and/or drugs. 911 & Other primarily include medical

distress and non-incidents. Property incidents are defi ned as theft of property and violent includes robbery/attempted robbery.

The top two frequent crime types totaled 218 or 63% of total incidents, 135 incidents of loitering, sleeping/sitting and 83 incidents

of panhandling, soliciting, bothering/harassing customer. Trespassing, criminal trespassing was 35 or 10%. Alcohol, drugs

accounted for 28 or 8% and disturbance, fi ghting, suspicious activity was 22 or 6%, and public urination and two public lewdness

was seven or 2%. Non-incident type was 14 or 5% of total incidents and is described as a neutral incident, only information

obtained and attendance to meetings. For Property and Violent incident types refer to V. Signifi cant incidents.

Incident count peaked at 50 during the hour of 1pm, of which 30% loitering, sleeping/sitting followed by 24% panhandling,

soliciting, bothering/harassing customer. Incident count peaked at 78 on Wednesdays, of which 42% loitering, sleeping/sitting

followed by 23% panhandling, soliciting, bothering/harassing customer, combined total 65%. These crime types were also

relatively higher on Tuesdays and Thursdays, combined attributing 66% on both days.

S.E.A.L responded to four incidents between 12am-2am hours. In Quadrant 1, one involved a fi ghting dispute and one

panhandling. In Quadrant 2, one constituent contact’s request to patrol their home for suspicious activity and the other involving a

loiter with an open container.

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Red - 142 or 41% of incidents are described as any

of the following: release or transport by EMS, issuance

of CTW(s), detained by S.E.A.L and subsequently

released by HPD, transported to the Sobering Center

upon Precinct 7 or HPD’s consent to transfer the

individual, or detained by S.E.A.L and subsequently

arrested by HPD. These incidents are categorized in

ranking 0-4 and detailed more specifi cally below.

Red Rank 0: Release/transport by EMS

Seven fi nal dispositions involved EMS, three transports to

the hospital, of which two described as being medical distress

one at a place of business (Fiesta) in Quadrant 3 and one on a

roadway and sidewalk in Quadrant 2 and the third suspected

kush at a place of business (McDonald’s) along Main St.

Corridor. Three were not transported by EMS, one in medical

distress and cleared by EMS at a place of business (Sears) in

Quadrant 3, one involved a disturbance and refused transport

(Metro PCS) in Quadrant 3, and one appeared passed out and

non-responsive but walked off (McDonald’s) along Main St.

Corridor. Lastly, status is unclear if transport occurred involving

one traffi c accident at a traffi c light on La Branch in Quadrant 4.

Red Rank 1: CTW issued

118 fi nal dispositions resulted in S.E.A.L issuing a CTW(s).

A CTW is best described as a written warning from a S.E.A.L

Offi cer. S.E.A.L records the individuals’ information along with a

photograph that is kept in fi le and may be referenced for future

use. 67 CTW related incidents in Quadrant 1 and 30 along

Main St. Corridor combined attributing 82%. CTW’s are further

discussed in IV. Hot Spots.

Red Rank 2: Release by HPD

Three fi nal dispositions S.E.A.L detained and subject was

released by HPD occurred in Quadrant 1. Two involved criminal

trespassing at the same place of business (CVS) with one

released on grounds HPD had not issued a CTW of their own

and one in which HPD’s request to the DA to accept charges

was rejected. One involved harassing a customer at Starbucks

and HPD gave a verbal warning.

Red Rank 3: Transport to Sobering Center

Six fi nal dispositions involved transport to the Sobering

Center, four consented by HPD and two by Precinct 7. Five

of the six were transported by the PIT (Public Intoxication

Transport) Team and one transported by Precinct 7. All seven

involved public intoxication by alcohol or drugs, of which two

specifi ed suspected kush. Two occurred at the same place of

business (Gulf Station) in Quadrant 4, two occurred in the

same place of business (McDonald’s) along Main St. Corridor,

one place of business (Texaco) in Quadrant 2 and (Club Cle)

along Main St. Corridor.

III. Final Disposition

Incidents are defi ned by their fi nal disposition, the fi nal stage of the S.E.A.L Offi cer and individual’s interaction. During

the three months ended March 31, 2017, 50% of all incidents complied indicated in green and yellow, while 41% resulted in

S.E.A.L’s issuance of a Criminal Trespass Warning (CTW) and/or transport, release, or arrest by law enforcement shown in red. The

remaining 9% is attributed to 7% constituent contact or information only in blue and 2% law enforcement offi cer assist in tan.

Green - 132 or 39% of incidents the individual was gone before arrival, gone on S.E.A.L’s arrival, or complied with the S.E.A.L

Offi cer through a verbal exchange.

Yellow - 39 or 11% of incidents the individual complied and was given a verbal criminal trespass warning.

Blue - 25 or 7% of incidents were constituent contacts or information only. This is comprised of S.E.A.L Offi cer(s) attending

meetings with MMD or constituents, S.E.A.L’s visual observations that were relevant, rendering aid, and responding to

constituent contacts of which involved any of the following:

disturbance, traffi c incident, follow up from attempted

robbery with deadly weapon, attempted breaking and

entering, and theft from vehicle.

Tan - six or 2% of incidents S.E.A.L assisted law

enforcement which may include some incidents where law

enforcement was on site prior to S.E.A.L’s arrival. This does

not include incidents S.E.A.L had with law enforcement that

resulted in release, transport, or arrest of an individual, refer

to red level fi nal dispositions. And these incidents did not

result in S.E.A.L issuing a CTW.

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Rank 4: Arrest by HPD

Eight fi nal dispositions related to arrests by HPD

and their crime descriptions can be described as criminal

trespassing (repeated trespasser), trespassing, panhandling,

public urination, theft and drugs.

Two arrests at the same place of business in Quadrant 1 (Walgreens) one related to repeated panhandling whereby individual

was issued a CTW and did not leave and the other for criminal trespassing whereby individual had trespassed the prior night. Two

at the same place of business in Quadrant 1 (CVS) one by repeated trespasser suspected theft of beer and the other for criminal

trespassing repeatedly by S.E.A.L and once by HPD. One arrest at a business (Starbucks) in Quadrant 1 involved public urination

and refused to leave. One arrest at a business (Buff alo Wild Wings) in Quadrant 1 involved an individual previously issued a CTW

and would not comply as Offi cer struggled with the subject. One arrest at a business along Main St. Corridor (Club Cle) related to

drugs where HPD completed a fi eld test verifying crack. One arrest at a business (Fiesta) in Quadrant 3 related to theft.

IV. Hotspots

Hotspots are defi ned as areas that reported highest

count of incidents. The top 10 hotspots attributed 64% of all

incidents. Similarly, 75% of CTW related incidents and 78% of

all CTW’s issued occurred in the top 10.

When looking strictly at CTW related incidents, 122 distinct

times lead to a total of 154 CTW’s issued. The diff erence is

primarily due to 27 incidents involving more than one person

and in these cases multiple CTW’s were issued for a single

incident. Additionally, four incidents CTW(s) were issued and

classifi ed under red rank 2, 3, and 4 due to the nature of their

fi nal disposition.

The highest number of incidents in a single location was

37 at CVS in Quadrant 1. The highest quantity of CTW’s issued

was at Club Cle along Main St. Corridor was 39 stemming from

19 incidents, of which 15 times 2 or more CTW’s were issued

during a single incident. Notably, at 2200 block of Louisiana

71% of the time S.E.A.L addressed this location, it was a CTW

related incident. These incidents were trespassing, theft,

sleeping/sitting, panhandling, loitering, criminal trespassing

and bothering/harassing customer.

Top 10 Hotspots:

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Alcohol, Drugs

(Hotspots only)

A concentration of alcohol or drugs at geographically

located around the vicinity of Hotspots 2 along Main St. Corridor

and 3 in Quadrant 2.

Panhandling, Soliciting, Bothering/Harassing Customer

(Hotspots only)

A concentration of panhandling incidents geographically

located at Hotspots 1 and 7 located in Quadrant 1 and along Main

St. Corridor, and at Hotspot 5 in Quadrant 1.

Loitering, Sleeping/Sitting compared to

Trespassing, Criminal Trespassing (Hotspots only)

A concentration of loitering is geographically located

around the vicinity of Hotspot 2 along Main St. Corridor and

Hotspot 3 in Quadrant 3. Incidents of trespassing and criminal

trespassing reported in Hotspots 1, 4, 5, and 6 in Quadrant 1

and Hotspot 8 in Quadrant 3/Main.

Disturbance, Fighting, Suspicious Activity

(Hotspots only)

Incidents of fi ghting and disturbance geographically

located at Hotspot 8 in Quadrant 3.

911 & Other

(Hotspots only)

Incidents of medical distress geographically located

around the vicinity of Hotspot 8 and 9 in Quadrant 3/Main.

A concentration of non-incidents reported in Hotspot 9 in

Quadrant 3 and Hotspot 10 along Main St. Corridor.

Property and Violent

(Hotspots only)

Incidents of theft reported geographically located around

the vicinity of Hotspot 8 and 9 in Quadrant 3/Main St. Corridor.

Concentration of Top 10 Hotspots by Crime Type:

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V. Signifi cant Incidents

S.E.A.L attended to fi ve incidents of public urination, of which four resulted in issuance of CTW and one detained by S.E.A.L

and subsequently arrested by HPD. All occurred at a place of business, two located in Quadrant 1 (Starbucks and Japanese

Barbeque), two located along Main St. Corridor (Sears and Club Cle) and one in Quadrant 2 (Texaco).

S.E.A.L attended to two incidents of public lewdness in which both individuals were issued CTWs and both occurred at a place

of business (Club Cle) along Main St. Corridor.

S.E.A.L attended to one incident of attempted breaking and entering into an apartment complex front door in Quadrant

3, where the Offi cer escorted tenant to residence and did a sweep of the interior of the building to ensure all was secure.

Additionally, two incidents of robbery were addressed in Quadrant 2, one involved assisting law enforcement (Texaco) and one in

response to following up on an attempted robbery with deadly weapon at a residential town home.

S.E.A.L Offi cer determined a male stealing from the Dr. Pepper vending machines, Fiesta loss prevention found the young man

was fi red from Dr. Pepper months ago, but was still pretending to be a Dr. Pepper representative and was stealing the coins from

the machines. S.E.A.L. placed handcuff s on him and Precinct 7 Deputy was notifi ed and dispatched to the location, and switches

the handcuff s. The DA accepted charges and subject was transported and arrested.

VI. Interpretation

In II. Incidents and Crime Types, incident and crime types were evaluated and in III. Final Disposition, fi nal dispositions were

detailed further. Taking the approach from start to end we can begin to look at outcomes based on crime types.

Incidents of Quality of Life fi nal disposition for 310 found 54% complied and 43% resulted in the full range of red rankings

- release or transport by EMS, issuance of CTW(s), transport to Sobering Center, or detained by S.E.A.L and either released or

arrested by HPD. The remaining 3% was constituent contact/information only and assisting a law enforcement offi cer.

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Incidents of 911 & Other fi nal disposition for 26 incidents found 65% was comprised of rendering aid, constituent contact, or

information only and 15% release or transport by EMS and 15% complied. The remaining was assisting law enforcement.

Incidents of Property and Violent fi nal disposition for 8 incidents found 38% constituent contact or information only and 50%

issuance of CTW(s) or arrest by HPD or Precinct 7. The remaining was assisting law enforcement.

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VII. Other Highlights

In efforts to introduce themselves and their services to the Midtown community, S.E.A.L has passed out signs and stickers to

businesses and business cards to Midtown constituents with their phone number at their own expense. Houston hosted Superbowl

LI in February 2017. In order to maintain patrol levels during this event, S.E.A.L added 8 additional Officers on February 5, 2017; plus

2 roving supervisors for 4 days at no charge to MMD.

VIII. Conclusions

The pilot program is currently in progress with three months remaining and this quarterly report offers insight into the public

safety issues the Midtown community is experiencing. The findings in this report will be used to assist in the direction and further

development of the pilot program during the remaining time period. While the discussion for private security may have been

in-part response to the Kush related issues, as of late, Kush incidents have, “decreased in general”, as stated by Sgt. Haynes. As

evidenced in this report, S.E.A.L is addressing other chronic public safety issues such as loitering, trespassing, and panhandling.

S.E.A.L has attended to 344 incidents, of which 41% were issued a Criminal Trespass Warning (CTW) and/or transport, release,

or arrest by law enforcement. And 50% of the time resulted in the individual complying, whereby S.E.A.L’s presence has functioned

as a visual crime deterrence or the Officer was able to deescalate the situation. This program is proving to be a crucial piece of the

public safety efforts initiated by the MMD and its impact, thus far, has improved the overall safety of our midtown community -

businesses, residents, and visitors.

The S.E.A.L Pilot Program will end approximately June 31, 2017.

IX. Recommendations

It should be noted, that the Public Safety Chair and Vice-Chair do not have a law enforcement background. However, in

analyzing the data there are opportunities for dialogue that may help promote solutions. For example, the highest count for

panhandling incidents at CVS in Quadrant 1, which offers the opportunity to promote the future anti-panhandling campaign signage

at that location or within its vicinity.

Another opportunity for dialogue with the local Club Cle. Business has a stoop and dumpster that attracts loitering,

trespassing, and unwanted behavior and is also closed during the day with less supervision on the property. Perhaps, S.E.A.L could

discuss possible options with the owner to remove or close-off the area to the public.

Additionally, the vicinity of Club Cle and Texaco had the highest count for drugs, alcohol with 6 and 5 incidents, respectively.

S.E.A.L could speak with the business owners and offer additional safety and security tips.

X. Future Considerations

As referenced in I. Background and Overview, Houston City Council recently passed the banning of panhandling on a median,

which is currently in effect. The ordinance banning homeless camps will go into effect on Friday May 12, 2017. Midtown has the

largest homeless encampment in the city. S.E.A.L may see an overall increase of incidents stemming from homeless people being

displaced due to the new ordinances.

Based on the findings, could the peak hour and days be the result of S.E.A.L Officers being on duty midweek? Why is

Greyhound bus station not a named location as would be expected due to high visibility?

S.E.A.L utilizes GPS tracking, how could this be added to future reporting?

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