The Special Operations Division’s primary functions are to coordinate police resources for special events; and to respond to major incidents throughout the city. The division consists of five specialized units, which function collectively to fulfill its primary and secondary functions. These specialized units include:

• Special Response Group, which provides crowd control for around 200 planned and unplanned demonstrations and events each year;
• Special Events Group, which coordinates HPD activities at 125 special events each year, including parades, fun runs, dignitary visits, and other activities planned by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events;
• Mounted Patrol, which patrols the central business district and Hermann and Memorial Parks, proactively addressing quality of life issues and deterring crime through active enforcement and high visibility;
• Catastrophic Planning Unit, which plans police responses to various catastrophic events, including natural disasters, pandemics, and terrorist attacks;
• 1033 Unit, The 1033 Program, or the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Program, allows the Houston Police Department to acquire surplus military equipment from the Department of Defense, enhancing capabilities at minimal cost. This includes high water vehicles vital for flood response, as well as a range of heavy equipment for various operational needs. Through the program, the department can access essential resources for high water truck preparedness, disaster response, and general law enforcement activities. It enables significant cost savings while necessitating proper management of the acquired assets, ensuring they are maintained, distributed, and used effectively to bolster public safety and operational efficiency;
• Port Patrol Unit, which is responsible for maritime response on all waterways within the Port of Houston/Ship Channel and its connecting waterways, providing boater safety, search and recovery, and security patrols of critical infrastructure; and
• Lake Patrol Unit, patrols Lake Houston, its feeding rivers and tributaries, and the critical infrastructure which serves as the City's largest water source. The Unit maintains two principal functions; safety through deterrence and law enforcement, as well as public education directed toward recreational and commercial activities. Additionally, Lake Patrol officers respond to flood and swift-water rescue calls throughout the City of Houston.