The week before Thanksgiving, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced his choices to head four city departments: including a new police chief and a new fire chief. Art Acevedo was sworn in as the city's new police chief and Samuel Pena was appointed as the new fire chief.
The appointments mark the first time in city history that two Hispanics are appointed to lead the Houston police and fire department at the same time. The population of the city of Houston is nearly half Hispanic.
Florian Martin had an opportunity to speak with both men in order to learn more about the appointments, and the challenges each will face.
Above photo: (Houston Chronicle: Art Acevedo (left) is named as the new police chief of the Houston Police Department (center) Mayor Sylvester Turner (right) Samuel Pena the new chief of the Houston Fire Department)
NOTE: Police Chief Art Acevedo is scheduled to appear on Houston Matters on December 20, 2016.