Primary Department: Constables
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Constable Mark Herman
Managing Department: County Engineer
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV-SP
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Constable, Precinct 4 Dispatch Expansion
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $207,000
Total Estimated Project Cost: $207,000
Request Summary:
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Request by the Constable of Precinct 4 for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Constable, Precinct 4 Dispatch Expansion project, for an amount of $207,000 and request for approval of commercial paper funding in the amount of $210,000.
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Project Description:
Harris County Constable, Precinct 4, is requesting this project for the remodel and expansion of the existing dispatch center. Due to continued operational growth and increased call volume, the current dispatch center no longer provides adequate workspace for personnel, equipment, supervisory functions, and future staffing needs. The proposed project would remodel adjacent office space to expand the existing dispatch center footprint and improve operational efficiency. The project would allow the department to proceed with the planning, design, construction, infrastructure modifications, equipment relocation, and related expenses necessary to complete the project. This expansion is necessary to maintain effective emergency communications operations, improve working conditions for dispatch personnel, support future growth, and ensure the department can continue to provide timely and efficient service to the public.
The project will address continued operational growth and the increasing demands being placed on emergency communications personnel. The current dispatch center was originally designed to support significantly fewer personnel, a smaller operational footprint, and substantially lower call volumes than are presently being experienced. Over time, population growth, increased calls for service, expanded patrol operations, and additional operational responsibilities have placed considerable strain on the communications division and the existing physical workspace.
As operational demands have increased, the current dispatch center has become overcrowded and no longer provides adequate space for dispatcher consoles, supervisory oversight, equipment placement, training functions, or future staffing needs. The limited size of the existing workspace also restricts the department’s ability to efficiently integrate additional communications technology and create operational challenges during high-volume incidents and emergency events.
In 2025, the department invested more than $650,000 to outfit the dispatch center with modern, state-of-the-art dispatch consoles and communications infrastructure designed to support current and future emergency communications operations. While these upgrades significantly enhanced operational capabilities and technology within the center, the existing physical footprint of the dispatch center remains insufficient to fully maximize the efficiency, functionality, and long-term benefits of this investment. Expanding the workspace is necessary to ensure the upgraded equipment can be properly utilized and to allow for additional operational capacity moving forward.
The proposed project would remodel adjacent office space and expand the current dispatch center footprint by removing an existing wall and combining the spaces into one larger operational area. Construction and infrastructure modifications would then be completed to convert the expanded area into a fully functional emergency communications center capable of supporting current and future operational needs.
The project is intended to accomplish the following operational objectives:
• Increase the number of operational dispatcher/call taker workstations to support current staffing levels and future personnel growth
• Improve workspace efficiency, ergonomics, and employee safety within the communications center
• Provide sufficient room for additional communications equipment, upgraded technology systems, and future infrastructure enhancements
• Enhance supervisory visibility, coordination, and operational oversight during critical incidents and major events
• Improve continuity of operations and emergency response capabilities during periods of high call volume or emergency activation
• Provide adequate space for training, mentoring, and operational support functions within the dispatch center
• Allow for future staffing growth based on continued increases in population, calls for service, and operational demands
The requested authorization would cover costs associated with demolition and construction activities necessary to remove the existing wall and create one larger operational room, as well as all related improvements required to make the expanded dispatch center functional. This includes electrical and data infrastructure modifications, HVAC adjustments if required, furniture and dispatch console relocation and installation, technology integration, communications equipment relocation, and other associated construction or operational expenses.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
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Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
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Removal of existing walls, break room and electrical |
$50,000 |
- |
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Construction of the remodel and equipment |
$130,000 |
- |
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Contingency (15%) |
$27,000 |
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Total |
$207,000 |
- |
Justification & Alternatives:
This project is necessary due to continued operational growth, increasing call volume, and the expanding responsibilities placed on emergency communications personnel. The existing dispatch center was designed for significantly fewer employees and substantially lower operational demands than are currently being experienced.
The current workspace has become overcrowded and no longer provides adequate room for dispatcher consoles, communications equipment, supervisory oversight, training functions, or future staffing growth. The limited physical space negatively impacts operational efficiency, employee workflow, and the department’s ability to effectively manage high-volume incidents and emergency situations.
Emergency communications serve as a critical component of public safety operations. Dispatch personnel coordinate law enforcement responses, monitor officer safety, manage emergency communications, and support field personnel during critical incidents. A dispatch center that lacks sufficient operational space can reduce efficiency during emergencies, hinder communications coordination, and limit the department’s ability to effectively respond to increased service demands.
The project will significantly increase operational efficiency by creating a larger and more functional workspace that allows personnel, equipment, and communications systems to be organized and operated more effectively. Expanding the dispatch center will improve workflow between dispatchers and supervisors, reduce workspace congestion, improve visibility across operations, and allow personnel to communicate and coordinate more efficiently during routine operations and critical incidents. The additional space will also allow for improved placement of consoles, computer systems, radios, and communications equipment, reducing operational bottlenecks and improving response coordination.
The expansion will further improve efficiency by allowing the department to better accommodate training functions, temporary staffing increases during emergencies, and future technology upgrades without disrupting ongoing operations. Additional workstation capacity will also allow staffing adjustments during peak call periods, large-scale incidents, and emergency activations, improving overall response capabilities and service delivery to the public.
The project is also necessary to protect and maximize the county’s prior investment in communications infrastructure. In 2025, the department invested more than $650,000 in modern, state-of-the-art dispatch consoles and communications technology. While those upgrades significantly improved technological capabilities, the current physical layout and size limitations prevent the department from fully utilizing the upgraded systems as intended. Expanding the dispatch center will allow the department to properly integrate and utilize this equipment while supporting future operational growth.
Additionally, the expansion will improve continuity of operations by creating a more functional and efficient communications environment capable of supporting additional staffing, evolving technology, and emergency response needs. The project will also enhance employee safety, improve supervision and coordination during critical incidents, and provide the department with the infrastructure necessary to meet future operational demands.
Without this expansion, the department’s ability to efficiently manage increasing communications workloads, future staffing growth, and evolving emergency response needs may become significantly limited.
Overall, the project is intended to ensure the department can continue providing timely, reliable, and efficient emergency communications services to the public while improving operational readiness and long-term functionality of the communications center.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable):
The project is anticipated to be funded primarily through Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding due to the nature of the work involving facility renovation, infrastructure modifications, and long-term operational improvements to the department’s emergency communications center.
Any minor ancillary operational expenses not eligible under CIP guidelines, if applicable, would be addressed through existing departmental operating funds.
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Previous Court Action:
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Address: 6831 Cypresswood Dr. Spring, TX. 77379
Precinct(s): Precincts 1, 3, & 4
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Commercial Paper |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Anticipated Court Date: 6/11/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Sandra Staine, Senior Assistant County Attorney, 6/2/26
Department Approval by: Chief Toby Hecker
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 6/3/2026
Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: TBD
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Constable, Precinct 4 Dispatch Expansion project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
Note: Commercial Paper is issued in increments of $5,000 and the excess is not available to be spent by the department.
OMB Financial Management contact: Fahad Gulzar, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget