Security Survey – Your Opinion Matters

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Dear Heathlake Community Members:

The security survey below will be open for the next two weeks:

Background

Since the 1980’s, the Heathlake Community has contracted the Harris County Constables to provide additional patrol service to our community.  The contract provides for 80% of one deputy’s time during a day shift only for a total cost of $84,996 or approximately $52 per contract hour. The Constable contract is currently in place and renewable on a semi-annual basis and is cancelable with 30-days notice.

On November 3, 2021, the Heathlake Board informed our Members that they were in the process of reviewing a number of services and related costs including our single largest budget item – Security.

The result of the investigation has, unfortunately, revealed and confirmed some material issues that would call into question the benefit and propriety of continuing with the current Constable Contract.

Facts

On February 11th, the Board held a Security Open House and presented detailed information regarding their findings and that information was posted on our website under Heathlake News and is summarized as follows:

  • Heathlake has an executed contract with the County for 80% of one deputy’s time.
  • Heathlake has a separate agreement to allocate 10% of that time to the River Forest neighborhood.
  • The Contract is not flexible, Heathlake cannot request when patrols are needed, specifically to cover times at night.

The documentation/reports provided by the Constables indicate:

  • 77% patrols happen during the day.
  • 30% of days have no patrol activity in Heathlake.
  • 55% of the time patrolled under the Heathlake contract was spent in the River Forest neighborhood.
  • The hourly rate is expected to be $53 per hour when simply dividing the contracted hrs by the cost, however, based on the reports provided, Heathlake received less coverage resulting in an hourly cost between $96 and $667.
  • At a minimum, Constable patrols have an effective hourly cost exceeding two to three times as much as armed private patrols.
  • Heathlake participates in an informal, undocumented patrol co-op in which Heathlake pays the highest cost per house for patrol services.
Would you be in favor of searching for better and more cost-effective security options?
Would you support employing private patrols which can be deployed at our specific requirements (days/evenings/both):
Are you concerned there are nearly no night patrols in our community?
Would you be supportive of installing Flock Technology cameras which capture and store images of all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians as a deterrent to criminals?
Would you prefer to raise HOA dues to have both Constable patrols and another crime deterrent when the Constables are not present?