Missouri City police report shows steady crime rates, highlights staffing and response-time gains

Police Chief Brandon Harris presented the Missouri City Police Department annual review to the City Council on May 5, reporting more than 133,000 calls for service in 2024 and highlighting improved response times and officer-initiated contacts.

The report matters because it summarizes department activity, staffing, crime trends and program investments residents use to judge public safety and council resource decisions.

Harris, the police chief, said traffic stops were the top call type across council districts and that many of the department’s top activities are self-initiated by officers. "The top call for service for each council district is actually traffic stops," he said. He reported 5,355 reports filed, about 2,500 cases assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division and 1,588 arrests in 2024, with the most common arrest listed as "warrant other agency." The department also logged 1,373 crash reports.

Harris described year-to-year shifts tied to pandemic-era changes in enforcement. He said the department made about 29,000 contacts in 2022 and "doubled our contacts almost" the following year, a pattern he linked to reinstated crime-prevention strategies: increases in officer contacts, he said, corresponded with reductions in part 1 crimes and crashes after 2022.

Harris also listed program and equipment highlights: collection of 698 pounds of prescription drugs through a drug take-back partnership; certification as an autism-friendly law enforcement agency; receipt of roughly 135 public-safety grants; creation of a peer-to-peer mental wellness program for officers; participation in a regional narcotics task force and seizure funds reported in 2024. He said the department used seized funds for equipment purchases and added 25 Flock cameras, noting that those purchases did not use citizens’ tax dollars.

Council members pressed on staffing and measurements. Council member Lynn Clouser asked about vacancies; Harris answered, "We are currently at 10 vacancies." Mayor Pro Tem Sonia Brown Marshall asked about response times; Harris said nonemergency response averaged a little over 10 minutes (goal: 15) and emergency calls averaged a little over five minutes (goal: seven). Council member Boney and others asked about impacts of growth in the Fort Bend Town Center and Tollway/Highway 6 area; Harris said that area is among the busiest districts and that Metro transit partners will help patrol new facilities such as the park-and-ride.

Council members praised returning officers after a 2022 line-of-duty shooting: Harris noted an officer shot three times in 2022 returned to full duty in 2024. Several council members thanked officers and department leadership for community engagement at events and for technology investments such as cameras and crash-data systems.

The presentation concluded with council requests for more data: Council member Klausler asked whether the ordinance changes affecting massage and nail shops reduced human-trafficking calls; Harris said he would follow up with specific numbers. Council members asked for future reports to include those follow-ups and suggested the department continue annual reporting to keep residents informed.

The report was for discussion; no council action or vote was taken on the presentation during the meeting.