Katy Police Chief

Hebert’s City Administrator Contract to Be Extended

Byron Hebert - City of Katy photo

By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday authorized a three-year extension with City Administrator Byron Hebert to remain in his post. Hebert has served as city administrator since 2014. Hebert’s contract extension will include a 3% cost-of-living increase that other city employees will receive if the proposed city budget gets approved. “I’ve known Byron Hebert for 19 years, ever since he came first here under (then-city administrator and former mayor) Johnny Nelson and (then-mayor) […]

Noe Diaz Becomes Katy Police Chief

Municipal Judge Jeffrey Brashear swears in Police Chief Noe Diaz. Mayor Chuck Brawner is on left - George Slaughter photo

By George Slaughter Katy Police Chief Noe Diaz was sworn into office Monday in front of a packed Katy City Hall council chamber filled with law enforcement personnel from various agencies. Before becoming chief, Diaz was a Texas Ranger for 11 years. He began his career as a correctional officer in 1986 with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He later became a deputy constable in Harris County Precinct 5 in 1994, then joined the […]

Texas Ranger Noe Diaz Appointed Katy Police Chief

Noe Diaz

By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday night approved Texas Ranger Joel “Noe” Diaz Jr. as Katy’s fourth police chief. Diaz will be sworn in as chief Monday afternoon at City Hall. Diaz Discusses Goal to Grow Department Diaz said he hoped to make the police department “a little friendlier,” and that his top priority would be officer retention. He said he wants to see the department grow because the Katy community is growing. […]

Katy Police Chief Appointment Expected Monday; Diaz Receives Endorsement

By George Slaughter The Harris County Deputies’ Organization this week endorsed Texas Ranger Noe Diaz for Katy police chief. The Katy City Council is expected to approve his appointment at its Monday meeting. David Cuevas, the organization’s president, said in a memo to Mayor Chuck Brawner and the Katy City Council that the organization “wholeheartedly supports and endorses” Diaz’s appointment. Diaz will succeed Bill Hastings, who retired in January to run for mayor against Brawner. […]

City Postpones Police Chief Selection

By George Slaughter The Katy City Council Monday night postponed a vote on a permanent police chief following pushback over Mayor Chuck Brawner’s recommended candidate for the job. Brawner late last week decided to nominate Noe Diaz, a longtime Texas Ranger, for the position. But Ward B Council Member Jimmy Mendez said Monday he has received many calls expressing dismay both over the selection and its timing. Given that the city took a relatively long […]

Tim Tyler Takes Charge as Interim Chief of Katy Police Department

Tim Tyler - Katy News photo

By George Slaughter With Bill Hastings’s retirement as Katy police chief last week, the city council turned to long-time assistant chief Tim Tyler to serve as interim chief. Hastings said the city’s growth, and the budget required to meet the needs coming from that, will be Tyler’s biggest challenges going forward. “We can’t fight the growth, but the city is going to have to monitor closely the needs of fire service, emergency management and the […]

City Honors Retiring Police Chief Bill Hastings

Mayor Chuck Brawner, right, honors retiring Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings at City Hall - George Slaughter photo

By George Slaughter Police Chief Bill Hastings is retiring today after nine years on the job, and the Katy City Council honored him for his service Monday. Hastings is the third police chief in Katy’s history. The first chief, Pat Adams, hired Hastings in December 1986 for the police department. Hastings worked his way through the ranks. Then-Mayor Don Elder, Jr., appointed Hastings chief, succeeding R.L. “Buddy” Frazier, who had held the job for 13 […]

Retiring Police Chief Bill Hastings to Run for Mayor

Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings and his wife, Susan Denise Hastings - Facebook photo

By George Slaughter Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings, who announced his intention to retire as chief January 15, said Thursday he intends to run for mayor next year. “I just want to have everybody on the same page,” Hastings said. “All the city employees, subdivisions—I’m not sure how inclusive they feel. I want the city and citizens to all be as one. I want this to be a vibrant community that’s inclusive to everybody here. […]

Police Chief Bill Hastings to Retire January 15

Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings and his wife, Susan Denise Hastings - Facebook photo

By George Slaughter Katy will soon have a new police chief following the retirement of Chief Bill Hastings, who on Tuesday announced his intention to retire after a 43-year public safety career. His retirement takes effect January 15. Hastings said in an interview Wednesday that his decision came after much deliberation and discussions with family and close friends. “You work all your life to retire, and the closer it gets, the scarier it gets,” Hastings […]

Former Katy Police Chief Frazier Remembered as “Old School Law Enforcement”

Buddy Frazier - photo courtesy Schmidt Funeral Home

By George Slaughter Former Katy Police Chief R.L. “Buddy” Frazier was remembered Saturday as a great guy and “old school law enforcement.” Frazier died Wednesday. He was 77. “He was a great investigator,” Mayor Chuck Brawner said. “He was old school law enforcement. He expected you to do your job and stay busy and you’ll never have a problem with him.” Brawner recalled how one day he was working with a German Shepherd police dog, […]