First responders play an important role in our communities, protecting citizens and entities from threats and unsafe circumstances. They provide their expertise and utilize countless hours of training to bring safety to people in need.

At Port Houston, public safety plays a big role in ensuring the Port and the Houston Ship Channel continue to operate and drive commerce to the region. We provide security for the entire Channel, which includes Port Houston’s eight public terminals and more than 200 private facilities.

The Port’s Security and Emergency Operations (PSEO) division include emergency management, police, fire fighters, and security, working in partnership with private, local, and state-level entities. Each group performs various tasks and distinct roles, including dispatch, patrol, fire safety inspections, emergency planning, training, and more.

Jessica Montecalvo, Port Houston’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, along with the rest of the emergency management staff, acts as a first responder. The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for planning and responding to incidents. In addition, the team is responsible for implementing all emergency management-related activities. This includes driving initiatives like building a hurricane preparedness plan and working through various scenarios that can affect the port’s activity or operations due to emergency disruptions.

Port Police is its own department, separate from the City of Houston’s police. This team helps keep truckers, port employees, and those on Port Houston property safe. Port police takes on a lot of responsibility, answering a large amount of calls across port property. These calls include response at the gates, damage to port property, disabled vehicles, lost or recovered property, making arrests of any persons with an outstanding warrant, and PH vessel calls when a vessel needs help moving.

Port Houston’s Fire department supports all terminals and facilities both waterside and on land, of the 52-mile ship channel. Covering all the way from Bolivar Road in Galveston to Buffalo Bayou and all its tributaries that stem from it, this team takes preventative measures to ensure the Port stays safe by enforcing code, tariffs, providing extinguisher inspections, and reviewing plans for new construction.

Port Houston’s Security department works hard to operate and ensure that the port gates stay secure. Jessica Thomas, Director of Port Houston Security notes, “I have a team of thirteen people, this includes facility security managers who manage the basic security in the facility, I have port security officers that go around the terminal checking fence lines, doing gate requests and access control, and the credentialing department which does all the access control for Port Houston, employees, contractors, and port tenants.”

Extensive training and the right equipment allow the port first responders to act quickly and potentially save lives, making their job a critical part of Port Houston’s workforce. As leaders in the organization, they also are active in volunteering and community service at nearby communities. To learn more about recruitment opportunities and careers in port security and emergency operations, visit: porthouston.com/careers-2/

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The Port Houston Police and Security departments volunteered at a housing facility, Jacinto City Healthcare Center in Houston, to bring Christmas cheer to its residents Dec. 18. They provided plush pillows and blankets to the Houstonians while entertaining them with holiday music, food and games.

In 2018, the Port Houston Police and Security departments raised more than $2,900 towards the Silver Santa project through donations and various fundraisers. The project requires several months of planning led by a steering committee of port police and security personnel.

“I worked the memory care unit during the port Christmas delivery, and I could tell that the residents’ spirits were pleased,” said Eutenia Harris, LVN charge nurse at Jacinto City Healthcare Center.

Port Houston Police Chief Mark Smith said the port provided gifts to more than 135 seniors.

 “We also delivered items to the Magnolia Multi-Center, the Chicano Family Center as well as six local residences in the community,” Smith said In addition, Port Houston’s police officers personally purchased and donated 17 bikes to students at Port Houston Elementary Dec. 13 for their exemplary school attendance.

The port’s Police department also participated in several other outreach opportunities this year, including National Night Out and National Coffee with a Cop Day.

“We are always glad to see when specific departments take on special outreach initiatives in the community,” said Leslie Herbst, director of community relations and events for Port Houston. “These efforts, in addition to the number of programs and volunteer projects in which all Port Houston’s team members participate, helps us continue to positively impact our neighboring communities.”

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The Port Houston Police and Security departments volunteered at a local housing facility, New Hope Housing, Inc. at Brays Crossing and Jacinto City Healthcare Center in Houston, bringing Christmas cheer to more than 140 residents on Dec. 20. They provided plush blankets and tupperware to the Houstonians while entertaining them with holiday music, snacks and games.

The Silver Santa Project idea came about three years ago when Port Police Chief Mark Smith was visiting his mother at an assisted living facility where she stayed. “It was sad to see that not many seniors are remembered in nursing homes, especially during the Christmas season. I wanted the Police department to do something for our local seniors, so I came up with the Silver Santa Project,” said Smith.

“This year, I decided to expand into other areas of our local community, so we reached out to New Hope Housing.”

This year, the Port Houston Police and Security departments raised more than $2,000 towards the Silver Santa project through donations and various fundraisers. The project requires several months of planning led by a steering committee of port police and security personnel.

New Hope Housing’s mission is to provide life-stabilizing, affordable, permanent housing with support services for people who live on very limited incomes. The organization strives to be an enduring institution serving Houston’s most vulnerable citizens.

In addition, Port Houston’s police team distributed 14 bikes to students at De Zavala Elementary for exemplary school attendance on Dec 13.

The port’s Police department also participated in several other outreach opportunities this year, including “National Night Out,” “National Coffee with a Cop Day” and Red Ribbon Week.

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On Saturday, August 5, a potential suicide was averted, thanks to some quick-thinking Port Houston Police officers who spotted a man threatening to jump off the 610 bridge.

Port Houston Officer Jon Schwartz was en route to Manchester Terminal when he observed a motorcycle stopped on the southbound side of the 610 Bridge at the safety fence line. He noticed that the motorcyclist was acting suspiciously and notified Dispatch. After Officer Schwartz turned around and returned to the southbound side, he saw that the motorcyclist had climbed over the rail and was sitting on a sign bracket frame attached to the outer ledge, preparing to jump off the bridge. Houston Police Department Officer Helton, who had just arrived, and Schwartz began talking to the man, attempting to calm him down. They were joined by Sgts. Jimmy Avalos and Charles McCary.

Soon after, HPD units arrived and assisted in trying to talk the man off the outer ledge. When he did not appear to calm down, Schwartz, Avalos and Helton, along with other HPD officers, grabbed him and pulled him back over onto the bridge to safety.  The Crisis Intervention Response Team unit took the man into custody, and he was taken to Ben Taub Hospital for evaluation.

“Our Police Department officers did outstanding work in saving this man’s life by pulling him from the 610 bridge,” said Police Chief Mark Smith. “I would like to thank Dispatcher Tammie Craft, Officer Schwartz, Sgt. Avalos and Sgt. McCary for their quick and professional response.”

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