While the department's beginning was humble, it grew more advanced as technology became available and was able to handle the various challenges that would plague various cities as well as some of the more distinctive aspects of its geography.

In 1918 HPD hired Eva Jane Bacher as its first policewoman and in 1921 was assigned to the Public Moral and safety squad (Which later turned into the Vice Division), making her the first female Detective.

The assigned officers were close to the ship channel and were kept busy with prohibition violations and were charged with intercepting all forms of liquor.

The remainder of the decade saw the following milestones: 1927: 1928: 1929: In 1930, the Touchy Furniture Store Robbery highlighted a deficiency in the firepower of HPD's weapons.

This allowed for "Scout Cars" to be deployed more effectively and designed to create a feeling of friendliness and safety between the department and citizens.

The milestones of the 1930s included: 1935: 1936: 1937: 1939: Additionally in 1939, HPD started its first Police Academy Class held at the Sam Houston Coliseum under the direction of Captain L.D.

In the same year the Department started giving voluntary blood tests to determine the intoxication of suspected drunken drivers.

In 1951, Chief Morrison announced a "booster squad" designed to be deployed at certain crime-infested parts of the city that proved to be quite effective in cutting down crime in areas they worked in.

In 1960, some of the requirements were trainee applicants during this time frame were to be: Other milestones for the 1960s include: 1960: The Central Intelligence Division was created to track "hoodlums".

[6] Mayor Welch then planned community relations training program for police officers in the aftermath of the riot.

The Houston Police Department and the People's Party II clashed in the area of St. John's Baptist Church on 2800 Dowling Street.

[citation needed] Other milestones in the 1970s include: 1970: 1972: Chief Short issued a written version of a long-standing verbal policy against officers accepting rewards.

1975: 1976: 1977: 1978 The department hired a psychologist (Dr. Gregory Riede) to screen police applicants and provide counseling services.

The program combined police patrol with citizen awareness and designed to cover selected high-crime areas.

Chief Watson established the Personal Concerns Program that gave attention to and provided action to employees demonstrating behavior problems.

With the election of Robert "Bob" Lanier in November 1991 and his swearing in ceremony two months later, he pledged to put the equivalent of 655 additional officers on the streets of Houston.

Immediately up on his appointment Chief Nuchia he went to a "back-to-basics" policing approach that would make crime fighting his first priority.

Other achievements of the decade included: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: Planning for police services were undertaken with the beginning of the Kingwood annexation process.

Judge Lynn Hughes granted a motion making it possible for the Police Department to fill vacant sergeant and lieutenant through promotions.

It was also during 1997 that then Governor George W. Bush signed into law the new "meet and confer" legislation for the Houston Police Department.

In December 1997 the new 26-floor high-rise police headquarters (the former Houston Natural Gas Building) located at 1200 Travis was dedicated.

Lee P. Brown, the former Chief of Police, was elected as City Mayor in November 1997 and took the oath of office in January 1998.

The paint was a special order and cost significantly higher and the city settled with white cars using the blue "Houston Police" logo.

[citation needed] 2002: On November, an investigative report made by KHOU about improper lab procedures and accuracy of results.

The severity of the lack of credibility lay question of a number of cases, including those that were later convicted and put on death row.

2003: January: Harris County District attorney Chuck Rosenthal announces plans to retest DNA evidence from hundreds of cases.

March: Josiah Sutton, convicted with faulty DNA evidence, is released from prison after serving more than four years for a rape he did not commit.

[12] 2004: August: Police Chief Harold Hurtt reveals that evidence from thousands of cases dating back to the 1970s was improperly stored in HPD's property room.