Matt Degrood

Houston

Breaking News Reporter at Houston Chronicle

Dog dad to Molly Ivins. Native Texan. Lonestar enthusiast. Roma superfan.

Featured in: Favicon

houstonchronicle.com Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

chron.com

seattletimes.com Favicon

miamiherald.com Favicon

statesman.com Favicon

charlotteobserver.com Favicon

kentucky.com

star-telegram.com Favicon

dailyherald.com + 47 more

Articles

A vital anti-hate grant was cut by the DOJ, putting an HPD teen program at risk

20 hours ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

The future of a Houston-area nonprofit dedicated to partnering police with teens to improve community policing is in doubt after President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice canceled the anti-hate grant that helped fund it. Federal officials recently canceled around $387,600 in grants for the Teen and Police Service Academy, or TAPS, organization based in Houston, according to federal records.
Harris County sheriff asking for deputy raises after Houston police contract

5 days ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

With Houston Police Department reaching an agreement that will offer 36.5% in raises over the next five years, more than 100 deputies applied for the better-paying city jobs, leading Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to ask county commissioners to give his staff raises. Those potential exits, combined with 41 existing vacancies in the agency of more than 2,200 deputies, led Gonzalez to pen a letter calling for additional resources for the sheriff’s office.
Trend emerges in 2025 Houston homicide figures, records show

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Houston, unlike the majority of major cities across the United States, is seeing an uptick in homicides in 2025, compared to the year before. As of Monday, Houston had seen 112 homicides, compared to 104 through the same period in 2024, according to the Houston Police Department. A spokesperson for the department stressed the numbers were preliminary and subject to change.
Houston police's new records system delayed, months after warning letter

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Eight months before Houston Police Department was set to switch to a new, $31 million records system, a public safety systems expert penned a letter expressing concern about the company chosen and how the city might be setting itself up to go through a second suspended cases scandal. Versartem Public Safety Inc.
Houston Police to Get Nearly $1.5B in Salary Raises over Next 5 Years

1 week ago | officer.com | Matt Degrood |Tanya Babbar

Whitmire said the contract, which he believes will help with recruiting and retention, will make Houston police officers the highest-earning law enforcement officers of major departments in Texas. Austin had recently become the highest-paid after their recent contract agreement, Whitmire said, but those salary increases haven't yet led to a noticeable increase in recruiting efforts.
Houston police to get over 36 percent raises over next 5 years, mayor announces

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood |Tanya Babbar

Houston police officers are set to receive 36.5% in raises over the next five years, in addition to a host of other new benefits, Mayor John Whitmire announced Friday, less than 24 hours after 1,000 employees filled out their final retirement paperwork. The new proposed contract, which will cost the city a total of around $67 million this year and $832 million in five years, is the second major labor agreement Whitmire has reached since taking over as mayor in 2024.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire set to announce new police union contract

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Mayor John Whitmire on Friday plans to unveil the specifics of a new Houston police contract, as the city faces a $330 million budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year. Members of the Houston Police Officers Union have been negotiating with city officials for months on a new contract, with the current labor contract set to expire June 30.
Houston immigrant groups to protest at city hall over local ICE policies

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

A Houston-based immigrant advocacy coalition plans to protest Thursday at City Hall, demanding the police department stop collaborating with ICE and asking for data transparency on when they have called agents on people. The demonstration, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, comes after experts in a Chronicle investigation found the agency was cooperating with ICE, despite Houston Mayor John Whitmire in January downplaying concerns that would happen.
HPD official retires in latest turnover amid delays launching new records system

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

Assistant Chief Wyatt Martin retired from the Houston Police Department on Friday, becoming one of the latest members of the department's leadership to turn over after a new $31 million internal records system wasn't ready to go live as scheduled.
Houston police use DNA evidence to make an arrest in 2023 fatal shooting

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Matt Degrood

A man has been charged in a two-year-old fatal shooting in northeast Houston after DNA testing connected him to the death, officials said. LaPatrick Deshawn Mitchell, 25, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of John Williams, 68, according to the Houston Police Department. Article continues below this adOfficers in February 2023 responded to a shooting at a home near Westcott Road and Camay Drive, finding Williams with one gunshot wound to the chest.