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The District provides a number of programs as adopted in the Service Plan. For more information on any of the programs listed below please contact the Director of Services, Brian Burks at 281 564-5252 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Our Proactive Enforcement Initiative through Harris County Constable Pct 5 is a total enforcement effort focusing on multifamily communities and business centers. Deputies work as a team, enforcing criminal and traffic laws in an effort to detect and deter criminal activity. It has been proven that enforcement of the simplest of infractions can often result in the discovery of much more serious crimes.

Our Private Security Initiative is designed to provide regular patrols of area business centers & develop positive contacts with business owners that will facilitate open communication of their needs and concerns. Patrols are conducted 7 days a week.

The Board of Directors and Staff of the International District want constituents to know they are working in close cooperation with area partners to promote a safer community. We would like to acknowledge our community partners who are so helpful with our Public Safety efforts: The Houston Police Department; Harris County Pct. 5 Constables; Alief I. S. D. Police Department; Harris County Sheriff's Office; Greater Sharpstown Management District; Brays Oaks Management District; and the Westchase Management District.

Public Safety and Security Programs Update

INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT SAFETY PLAN

Proactive Uniform Police Patrols through Harris County Pct. 5 Constables:

The District has contracted with Harris County Pct. 5 Constables to provide supplemental patrol services within the boundaries of the district. Our team consists of Veteran Sergeant Laura Morgan and a dedicated group of deputies providing saturation (team patrols) in the multifamily and commercial areas of the district. They do not take dispatched calls for service, but rather work in a proactive way to seek out crime in troubled areas. Working in conjunction with locally responsible law enforcement agencies, and acting on crime analysis data and citizen information, the team works to eliminate illicit activity and the unsafe environment that results from unchecked crime. Since their creation in April, 2009 the team has racked up an impressive 1,128 arrests as of October, 2011. Just as important, however, is the fact that the Proactive Unit has assisted other local agencies on 1,566 area calls in the same period. Cooperation with other law enforcement agencies has been key to the success of this initiative! The Proactive Unit patrols the district 40 hours per week, 10 hours per day. If you have information for the Unit or would like to learn more about how they can help you as a commercial property owner, retailer or apartment manager/owner they can be reached directly while on duty at: 281 387-7316 Great job, team!

Emergency: 911

Non Emergency : 281.463.6666

More about Harris County Constables Pct 5

Private Security Patrols: Howard Security

To further enhance area security, the District started a Private Security Initiative in April 09 through Howard Security Services. These security patrols concentrate primarily in the District’s commercial business centers. Operating 120 hours per week, they are not only charged with detecting and deterring crime, they are expected to make frequent personal contacts with commercial business owners. “It’s important to let the District’s constituents know that our personnel are working hard to help enhance public safety in the area”, says Brian Burks, the District’s Director of Services.

In early 2010 the District expanded the hours of the Private Security Initiative to bring greater focus to early morning commercial burglaries that were plaguing the community. There were sometimes 30 to 40 commercial burglaries in the area on a monthly basis prior to these increased patrols. Since the change, however, there are typically no more than 8-12 commercial burglaries in any single 30 day period.

Spending time interacting with area business owners has become a specialty of Howard Security. The Board of Directors believed it was important for the District to gain the trust and confidence of area retailers. “Howard’s team has done an excellent job of getting to know area shopkeepers and owners, and they are often contacted directly whenever problems arise” says Brian Burks. “Howard’s guys have also assisted the District in creating a commercial business owners e mail data base through which the District can communicate important information and crime alerts”.

Building relationships with local retailers has been especially beneficial and has enabled the district to compile an email data base of over 500 local business operators. Through this data base the District is able to send out email alerts about local security issues as well as information about local events. Howard Security operates 120 hours per week within the boundaries of the District.

When on duty they can be reached at: 281 387-7347 or 713 201-9195. 

 REMEMBER:

IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, CALL 911 FIRST!

Boy Scouts of America; International District’s Secret Weapon:

Yes, that’s right, Boy Scouts! The International District is proud to sponsor Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing Crews in apartment communities in three distinct geographic areas of the district at: Arrowwood Apartments at 8304 South Course, the Mint at 6700 South Dairy Ashford and Catalina Apartments at 11555 Bissonnet. The District feels strongly that assisting area youth in finding positive activities is key to improving safety in the community. Director of Services, Brian Burks puts it this way: “Putting crooks in jail will absolutely not impact area crime long term. To do that, you must invest in initiatives that change the mind set of people before they begin to commit crime”. Boy Scouts of America provides a true long term solution to the problem of juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior.

The initiative has also been cost effective for the District. Initially, International District provided a total of $10,000.00 to fund two Boy Scout initiatives at the Mint and Catalina Apartments. The other $5,000 was then leveraged through the City of Houston Weed and Seed program for Arrowwood Apartments. So can scouting really reduce crime or prevent criminal activity? You bet! At the Mint Apartments, where scouting has been in place the longest, the crime rate has dropped by 22%! (Statistics provided by Houston Police Department). Scouting teaches children how to be part of a team, develop leadership skills, and that anything worth having is worth working for!

Credit for this success at the Mint does not belong only to scouting. Responsible property management has been the driving factor behind all of this success through an onsite community center operated by Texans Together who are also key partners of the District and the community at large.

The Board of Directors and Staff of International District want to encourage all who read this page to give of their time, talent or treasure to Boy Scouts of America through Tatanka District which serves the children within the boundaries of International District and Alief Independent School District. Contact International District Director of Services, Brian Burks at 281 564-5252 or e mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how you can help.

See more about Boys Scouts in the International District

Unified Emergency Action Plan

 The District is partnering with other emergency service agencies and also has memorandums of understanding with seven (7) additional management districts: Greater Sharpstown, Brays Oaks, Westchase, Montrose, Spring Branch, Aldine and Greenspoint.

The “All Hazards Approach” has a goal of keeping businesses in operation to provide uninterrupted service to the community. The unified plan will operate Points of Distribution (PODS), if necessary. We will be available as a resource to assist city, county and state government as needed. All activity will be coordinated through Houston and Harris County Offices of Emergency Management. Other key partners: Alief Citizen’s Emergency Response Team (C. E. R. T.), Alief I. S. D., Harris County Pct 5 Constables, State Representative  Hubert Vo, State Representative Kristi Thibaut, State Senator Rodney Ellis, and Anthony Robinson , J. D.  (F. E. M. A. Compliance).

Preparing for a Hurricane

Neighborhood Protection

The District checks routinely throughout the area for neighborhood protection issues such as high weeds, dilapidated structures, and illegal dumping. To date 181 letters with photographs identifying these locations have been submitted to the City of Houston Neighborhood Protection Corps.  Houston Police Department Neighborhood Protection Corps (NPC) and the Major Offenders Division Environmental Investigative Unit (EIU) office is located at 7125 Ardmore (Key Map 533-K).Neighborhood Protection Corps (NPC): 832-394-0600
Environmental Investigative Unit (EIU): 832-394-0770

The division is responsible for monitoring Dangerous Building Orders of the Building and Standards Commission and the Hearing Official for owner compliance. Contract Compliance Officers conduct compliance inspections after the dangerous building order expires. If the owner has not complied with the order, the inspector refers the property for demolition or securing based upon the condition of the structure.

The division provides dangerous building, weeded lot, junked motor vehicle, and graffiti abatement services on private property when owners have failed to comply with a dangerous building order, or a violation notice. Liens are placed against these properties once the City has performed the work.

Neighborhood Protection enforces Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances. Click this link to visit the City of Houston’s Code of Ordinances site.

Right of Way Responsibility

The City’s Code of Ordinances (10-451b) requires each property owner to maintain 14 feet in front of and behind his or her property line, this includes the city right-of-way. Just as you mow and maintain the grassy area in front of your home all the way to your curb or street, you are also responsible for mowing the side and back of your property if it extends to a curb, street, alley or ditch.

You are responsible for more than just your property. As a resident, you are responsible for your neighborhood. This includes the city right-of-way adjacent to your home. Not only is it required, it is the right thing to do – it maintains the quality of life in your neighborhood. Each time you mow or pick up trash, you are doing more than yard work – you are improving your neighborhood.

Graffiti Abatement

The District contracts with the Greater East End Management District to provide graffiti removal services for the district. This graffiti removal program not only covers or removes the graffiti but attempts to restore the surface to its original condition, through on site color matching of paint, power washers, or whatever it takes. This process not only removes the graffiti but removes the graffiti scar as well. The Graffiti Abatement Program directly contributes to the Management District’s economic development and public safety improvement goals. Since inception of the program over 2000 sites have been abated. For more information on the program, or to report an incident go here or contact the District Director of Services, Brian Burks.

View latest Graffiti Report

Lighting Surveys

The International District has entered into a 1 year agreement with SMC Logistics to conduct Street Light Outage Surveys of all main traffic corridors in the district. SMC will conduct regular inspections for light outage and immediately report their findings to Center Point Energy for repair. Keeping streets well illuminated at night enhances overall safety for the motoring public.

View The November Street Light Outage Report

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