Director of Communications Amery.Reid@pct3.hctx.net Direct: 281-840-0099
Statement from Commissioner Tom Ramsey:
“Either Administrator Berry was aware of the omitted information and proceeded with the presentation, or he didn’t do his due diligence before presenting such crucial information – both of which are unacceptable for the highest paid employee in Harris County government.
Providing a presentation with inaccurate data, especially during early voting, is questionable and seems disingenuous. You can probably do a quick search to see which elected officials are touting the decrease in crime, a narrative determined as false. To infer that crime is not our #1 problem is a disservice to the residents of Harris County. Even our Medical Examiner’s office shows no decrease in the number of homicides it has investigated so far this year compared to this time last year.
This misrepresentation of the facts by the County Administrator is why we had reservations on the creation of this department to begin with. Updates on crime statistics should be given by the Sheriff, Constables, and District Attorney’s offices, all of whom are elected officials. Instead, Judge Hidalgo, Commissioners Garcia and Ellis placed this in the hands of another un-elected official who is not accountable to the voters.
This is why there is no trust in Harris County government, and a direct reflection of the poor leadership Harris County has been under for the last four years. Next Commissioners Court, I will be asking Administrator Berry to explain this error, along with the laundry list of software/technology issues impacting law enforcement.”