HOUSTON, Texas — Voters in Houston have written two new policing rules into the city charter, approving Proposition A in the Nov. 3 election and putting an end to no-knock search warrants for city officers.
The measure, billed by backers as the Houston Freedom Act, bars Houston Police Department officers from seeking, carrying out or taking part in any warrant that lets them skip the knock. Under the new charter language, officers must knock, identify themselves and give at least 15 seconds before going in.
The second piece tells HPD to rank misdemeanor marijuana possession at the Class A and Class B levels dead last among its enforcement priorities and sets up reporting on that enforcement. Marijuana is not legal under the change, since possession is still a crime under Texas law and officers can still act on state statutes.
Voters had to take both policies together, because the ballot offered them as one package. Supporters said the change frees officers to spend time on more serious crime, while opponents warned about limits on police work.
The fight over no-knock raids traces back to the 2019 Harding Street raid, in which homeowners Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas were killed and several officers were hurt. After that raid, the department began requiring the police chief to personally sign off on each no-knock warrant, and city records showed none had been approved under that rule as of August.
Mayor John Whitmire said in September that personal marijuana use is not a priority for HPD, signaling the possession provision may change little day to day. How the amendment fits with state law could still need to be worked out.
Section: More Houston TX politics news
Filed under: Houston TX Politics News
