By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The Houston Police Department reached a sworn officer headcount of 5,364 in March 2026 — the highest total in at least 20 years — following the passage of nearly $1 billion in compensation increases to be distributed over five years.
- Some of the pay increases amounted to raises of 36.5%, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle.
- Officer attrition has dropped significantly, falling from 269 departures in fiscal year 2024 to 149 through the current fiscal year ending in June 2026.
- Houston Police Officers Union President Doug Griffith credited the new contract with driving improved recruitment outcomes.
- Seven of the 10 largest law enforcement agencies in Texas also reported increases in officer headcounts between 2024 and 2025.
HOUSTON, Texas — The Houston Police Department has reached its highest sworn officer staffing level in at least two decades, with department officials attributing the gains to a compensation package totaling nearly $1 billion in raises approved for distribution over a five-year period.
The department recorded a headcount of 5,364 sworn officers in March 2026, surpassing staffing levels not seen since at least 2006. The pay increases, some of which represented raises of 36.5%, appear to have reversed a years-long attrition trend within the department. Officer departures fell from 269 in fiscal year 2024 to 149 in the current fiscal year, which ends in June 2026.
Houston Police Officers Union President Doug Griffith credited the negotiated contract with producing measurable results. “Our new contract appears to be bringing people in,” Griffith stated in a prior interview with the Houston Chronicle.
The staffing improvement in Houston reflects a broader trend across the state. Seven of the 10 largest law enforcement agencies in Texas reported higher officer headcounts in 2025 compared to the prior year, indicating that compensation-driven recruitment strategies may be yielding results at multiple departments.