To serve and protect poor and elderly
Officer Warren Jones advocates for those in need

Officer Warren Jones, left, talks with Harold Willis, Willis Demolition, about a garage on Chew Street that Willis is demolishing for free. The garage was starting to collapse, and the owner couldn’t pay the demolition fee. Photo by Dave Schafer

By Dave Schafer

As a teenager, Warren Jones admired the two Houston police officers who came into the store where he worked after school and on weekends. The officers, Cedric Knight and May Walker, helped poor residents in Jones’ rough South Park neighborhood.

Their actions inspired Jones to follow in their footsteps, not just to become an HPD officer, but also to help others.

“Policing is just an avenue to do what I want to do, which is help people,” said Jones, who’s been an HPD officer for 19 years.

As a member of the differential response team out of the Northeast station, Jones was charged with getting rid of graffiti and dilapidated buildings. Occasionally, families couldn’t fix the problem or pay the tickets he wrote.

“When I come across a project that really touches me, I do what I can to get it taken care of so they can save their property,” he said.

This August, Jones was assigned to HPD’s public affairs constituency unit. His job is to be Chief Harold Hurtt’s ears, communicating with members of the community and helping people and companies take care of problems, such as a quarrel with a neighbor or concerns about METRO, as well as dilapidated houses.

“Now that I’m in this unit, it gives me the opportunity to continue to do what I like to do and not be restricted to a certain area,” said Jones, who works with partner Ken Nealy.

Knight, now a sergeant in the auto dealers division, said when he met 13-year-old Jones at the store, Jones was a caring, easy-going kid who was easy to talk to.

“All those characteristics proved to be with him as an adult,” said Knight, who regularly speaks with Jones. Jones also regularly speaks with Walker, who was recently elected Harris County’s first African-American female constable.

'The right type of projects'
In 2000, Jones helped Verna Gilcrease Morris after she lost both elderly parents in a house fire. The house was destroyed and needed to be torn down, but Morris and her siblings couldn’t afford to do that.

Willis demolishes the garage on Chew Street while Jones supervises. Photo by Dave Schafer

Jones convinced one company to tear down the house and another company to remove the debris, at no charge.

He has a knack for getting volunteers and companies focused on helping others. Jones said he just goes in and explains what he’s doing and that he has no budget. Can they give him their best price or donate their services?

“I’ve been blessed. I haven’t had anyone turn me down or ask for a fee that I couldn’t come up with,” he said. When a fee does have to be paid, he frequently pays out of his own pocket.

BFI Waste Services has hauled debris from several of Jones’ demolition sites at no charge.

“As a company, we think it’s important to be involved in the community,” said John Love, manager of the BFI’s North Houston division. “(Jones’ projects) are the right type of projects for us to be involved in.”

'Being the best police officer I can be'
Jones doesn’t shed his community-mindedness with his uniform.
He volunteers at Aldine Youth Center and sponsors 20 children per year through the Blue Santa Program.

For several months, he’s been tending Louise Banks’ yard on his personal time. Banks is a recovering cancer patient who can’t pay someone to mow her grass and pick up debris.

“I’m just one of many he helps,” Banks wrote. “On his day off, (Jones) goes up and down the streets helping the elderly, sick and underprivileged in any way he can.”

Jones takes his 17-year-old son, LeMarcus, to help at Banks’ house, teaching him the value of giving back. Danitra, his 13-year-old daughter, also tags along when Jones assists others.

“You’re only blessed if you pass it on,” he said.

“Improving the lives of our fellow citizens is why we work for the city,” Mayor Bill White said. “Doing that when we’re on the clock being paid is our job, but doing so on our private time is exceptional. Officer Jones sets an example for all Houstonians to follow, not just those who are employed by the city.”

For Jones, this is just who he is.

“I’m a public servant,” he said. “My job as a police officer is to get out and serve the public. And sometimes you can better serve the public by going outside the realm of policing. So I guess I’m being the best police officer I can be.”