This weekend’s news included the sad story of a convenience store owner who was murdered in northwest Houston:
Family and friends hung red and white carnations on the door of the Independence Heights store that Moses operated for about 35 years.
“He gave his heart and soul to this community,” said Moses’ 23-year-old grandson Cris Moses. “He could have turned his back on this community many times and he didn’t.”
Known as “Mr. Joe” to the community, Moses was a giving man and a devout member of the Bella Vista Baptist Church, Cris Moses said.
“If you needed groceries, money, prayers, he gave it to you,” he said. “He gave you whatever he could.”
Independence Heights Civic Club President John Branch, 47, said Moses supported his community and would have given anyone the shirt off his back.
“It was just a senseless killing of a neighborhood hero,” Branch said.
Yesterday, a Houston City Council committee sprung into action, approving a new ordinance:
On Monday, the Houston City Council Public Safety committee took the next step in getting a new law on the books.
“I think this is a great opportunity. It’s going to resolve a lot of problems,” said Councilmember Adrian Garcia.
The ordinance requires every convenience store owner to register their business. The process would be free and each worker must go through safety training. There must also be at least two color surveillance cameras inside the store.
The key word is visibility.
That’s something, police say, that wasn’t evident in Moses’ shop.
They say that in addition to blurred windows, the surveillance cameras weren’t working on Saturday.
Would working cameras have made a difference? No one knows, but they could have helped.
Psssst, Councilman Garcia! You know what would really resolve a lot of problems? More Houston police officers!
How many times have we seen camera footage on the evening news of a robbery taking place in a convenience store? Do the bad guys look as though they are afraid of the cameras? Nooooo. Cameras are reactionary. Cameras can help identify a bad guy after the crime has already occurred.
A visible police presence, with routine patrols, on the other hand, is a deterrent.
The city really should focus on making the job of being a Houston police officer more inviting. The signing bonus was a step in the right direction, but how about addressing the starting pay gap, and making sure requirements are common sense: Can former military folks without a college degree sign up? Is the no-facial-hair policy really necessary?
It’s all about priorities.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It’s a Sport.
(Old) Forum Comments (10)
