A Texas House committee gave approval to a bill authored by state Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) Friday that would shift control of a contract policing program from the Harris County Commissioners Court to the elected sheriff and county constables.
Under the county’s unique deputy contract program, the sheriff and eight elected county constables contract with homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, and public school districts for extra police patrols, but the commissioners court has in recent years sought to restrict or eliminate the program altogether.
