HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston Police Department’s new chief was officially introduced at City Hall on Friday, following Mayor John Whitmire’s announcement of the appointment on Thursday.
J. Noe Diaz, previously the Katy police chief and a former Texas Ranger, is set to lead the Houston Police Department.
“My vision is to return to being a servant leader,” Diaz said after Mayor Whitmire introduced him.
Here’s a snapshot of Diaz’s background:
As noted in Mayor Whitmire’s letter, Diaz has over 20 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career as a correctional officer in 1987 and has worked with Harris County Precinct 5 and the State Police Narcotics Division.
“This gentleman is the best crime fighter based on his experience, collaboration, and commitment to the job,” Whitmire said. “This is a fresh start.”
Diaz’s colleagues have praised him for his integrity and exceptional investigative skills.
ABC13 also spoke with Houston Police Officers Union President Doug Griffith, who commented, “We believe we have good people inside, but sometimes, it takes someone from the outside to come in and shake things up and make us better. I think he’s going to do just fine here.”
Diaz, who has collaborated with HPD but has never been an employee, will succeed Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite. Satterwhite took over after former chief Troy Finner retired amid the fallout from nearly 264,000 suspended cases due to staffing shortages.
Some HPD staff have expressed concerns about Diaz transitioning from leading 91 officers at Katy PD to managing over 6,000 at HPD. However, Diaz assured that his skills and leadership approach would be adaptable to HPD’s larger scale.
“It’s not something that I take lightly. It’s very basic. It’s about servant leadership. Whether you have five people or 6,200, it’s about treating people with respect and giving them the autonomy to excel,” Diaz said.
Retired Texas Rangers Capt. Tony Leal, who worked with Diaz for 20 years, supports the choice. “A leader is a leader, whether of many or few. I think that’s what the department needs and what the mayor is looking for. Sometimes bringing in someone from outside provides new perspectives,” Leal said.
Diaz’s official start date will be August 14, pending City Council approval.
