PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO SERVE AS DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS
New Ambassador Program Educates Downtown PEOs to Assist Downtown Visitors

July 18, 2006 -- Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) in downtown Houston will soon serve as downtown ambassadors, otherwise known as “human encyclopedias,” available to provide assistance at a moment’s notice. Loaded with information on the nearest theaters, arenas and the latest downtown happenings, ambassadors will serve as an official information source for downtown visitors.

In a partnership between the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Parking Management division of the City of Houston Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department, PEOs will undergo an additional curriculum-based training schedule supplementary to the standard training procedures. After completing the 10-day training course conducted at the HPD Academy, ambassadors will have received specialized instruction on crowd and minor traffic control, handling conflict and responding to emergencies with CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) capabilities.

The new program comes in response to Mayor Bill White’s commitment to customer service and ensuring a smooth flow of traffic on city streets.

“Having someone to help navigate will make it a lot easier to get around downtown,” said Dawn Ullrich, director of the City of Houston Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department. “Ambassadors will have the ability to assist with everything from finding a great nearby restaurant to locating a downtown landmark or giving directions for the quickest route to a particular destination.”

Police Chief Harold Hurtt said the program would also afford police officers more time to handle criminal issues.

"By assisting with minor traffic and crowd control issues, PEOs will allow our officers to spend more time responding to criminal activity and helping those most in need," Chief Hurtt said.

Officials in the Parking Management division reinforce customer service as a top priority when serving the needs of the public. According to Liliana Rambo, assistant director for the Parking Management division, visitors regularly approach PEOs on their daily beats.

“PEOs are our direct link to the citizens and are well-positioned to further our efforts in pursuing customer service as part of our business strategy,” Rambo said. "This program will empower employees and ensures they have the tools and techniques to aid them in the course of their daily encounters.”

The 10-day training schedule will conclude with a recognition ceremony to be held August 1 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where ambassadors will receive gold-colored shoulder cords to be worn along with their blue uniforms.

Approximately 35 PEOs are on duty and assisting others throughout the downtown area Monday through Saturday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Parking Management is a division of the City of Houston General Services Department. By servicing and maintaining almost 6,000 on-street parking spaces and numerous garages across the Greater Houston area, Parking Management creates sound regulations for all commercial and residential areas enhancing pedestrian safety, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic and allowing emergency vehicles to reach their destinations. Parking Management also encourages parking awareness while supporting public transit initiatives.

For more information about Parking Management, please call 713.837.0311 or visit www.houstonparking.org.