Environmental Investigations Unit of Houston Police Department
Environmental Investigations Unit of the Houston Police Department is responsible for investigating crimes with environmental impact in the city, such as water pollution, hazardous waste dumping, air pollution, and illegal dumping. They work on large-scale investigations involving releases of hazardous substances and maintain partnerships with various agencies and city departments. Their focus is on criminal investigations and coordinating site remediation efforts.
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Houston Police Department Houston Police Department Environmental Investigations Unit Environmental Investigations Unit Commander Dwayne Ready Major Offenders Division February 11, 2020
Environmental Environmental Investigations Unit Investigations Unit Tasked with investigating all crimes with an environmental nexus in the City of Houston. The majority of cases are worked as follow-ups. Investigators are on call to respond to major scenes. Cases include Water Pollution; Hazardous Waste Dumping; Air Pollution; Major illegal dumping cases. Focus is on criminal investigations. Follow-ups also involve coordination of site remediation (requests for removal of waste and/or environmental restoration). 1
Environmental Environmental Investigations Unit Investigations Unit Large Scale Investigations include: Company releasing benzene adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Releasing of hazardous wastes into the Houston Ship Channel (monitored by weekly Ship Channel patrols). Covert releases of oil and hazardous wastes into city storm drains. Plant Explosion Investigations (Most recent-January 2020). Mercury Spill incident (December 2019). Cooperative Partnerships The Unit houses investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Training Partnership with HPD Differential Response Teams (DRT) at Patrol Divisions Partnerships with multiple City Departments Health Department, Public Works, Solid Waste Management Department, Department of Neighborhoods, Industrial Waste Water 2
Illegal Dumping Illegal Dumping A Defendant intentionally or knowingly dispose, allow or permit the disposal of litter or other solid waste. Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 365. Penalties range from Class C Misdemeanor to State Jail Felony, based on the aggregate weight of the waste. Most cases involve solid wastes having an aggregate weight of more than 5 pounds (Class B Misdemeanor). 3
Illegal Dumping or Something Else? Issues sometimes arise as a many cases involve individuals placing trash on empty lots within their own neighborhoods. Class C violations; Improper Trash placement, Early placement of heavy trash, the District Attorney s Office will not prosecute in these instances. 4
5 year information 2014 2019 Dumping Cases Investigated: 641 Unit Staffing: 15 Dumping Cases Investigated:443 Unit Staffing: 12* Other Environmental Cases Investigated in 2019: 668 263 Dumping Cases worked by DRT Units Improvements to Process Upgraded Surveillance Cameras/software platform for monitoring dumping sites Training program with HPD Differential Response Team Providing tools and training to better investigate and deal with lower level illegal dumping investigations such as misdemeanors and when it may be possible neighborhood issues. Community Outreach programs *The Environmental Investigations Unit currently has three openings for civilian staff positions: two Community Service Inspectors and one Community Liaison. 5
