This summer, North Houston District leadership conducted a wide search to fill the role of Public Safety Director. After a thorough review of all candidates, the decision was made to hire from within and select Asdrubal “Dru” Gutierrez for the position. Formerly the Field Services Director, Gutierrez shared in a recent interview his enthusiasm for stepping into a new role on the NHD team. 

Asdrubal “Dru” Gutierrez Named as North Houston District Public Safety Director

Dru Gutierrez has been a part of the North Houston District staff for eight years, but this next year will look a little different. Gutierrez was selected to be the new Public Safety Director for the District, picking up where his predecessor, Tracy Harrison, left off. 

While Gutierrez says the change wasn’t originally on his radar, he felt the opportunity was right. “The more I learned about the position, the more I thought, ‘This might be a good fit,’” he shared.

“Dru knows the area, our organization, and is well-liked and respected by all levels of the District’s team and board. He has also shown the ability to lead and to develop creative solutions to the evolving needs of the area. We believe Dru is the right person to lead our existing public safety programs and help us continue the momentum that Tracy helped develop,” North Houston District President Greg Simpson said of the decision.

The Right Experience for the Job

Before joining NHD staff, Gutierrez’s previous experience includes 11 years working for Harris County as an aide to County Commissioner El Franco Lee, advocating for local communities and constituents, and most recently served as Public Safety Liaison for Municipal Utility District (MUD) 152 and Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office.

His experience collaborating with county and city contacts, as well as existing relationships with local law enforcement, will make the transition to Public Safety Director a smooth one. “I have an understanding of how the county and city have evolved over time, which will be a great benefit to me in this new role,” Gutierrez said. 

“Dru has experience working with multiple stakeholders, community members and issues, exposure to the workings of a wide variety of governmental departments, and a knowledge of how to navigate systems to find solutions to problems,” Simpson said. 

“I’m looking forward to picking up the mantle and building on the work that’s been done so far,” Gutierrez said, adding, “Most commercial property owners and local residents care especially about the visibility of our public safety personnel, which includes HPD, Sheriff’s Office, and Spartan Security.”

Public Safety in the District is a Collaborative Effort 

Public Safety is a key pillar of the North Houston District’s services and greatly contributes to the District’s overarching goals to promote growth in the area and work to enhance property values and appeal as a place to live, work, visit and invest. 

“Our aim is for property owners and visitors to feel and see the difference when they arrive in the North Houston District. I want people to feel safe to enjoy public amenities, businesses to come here and stay here, and for recent growth in the area to be apparent as you travel down major corridors,” Gutierrez commented. 

Gutierrez said that his goals for the next few months are getting to know current leadership at HPD, HFD, HCSO, and assessing ongoing public safety efforts. He is looking forward to interacting with the community at this year’s National Night Out on Oct. 6 at The Harvest church.

Accomplishments as Director of Field Services

As the District’s Director of Field Services for the past eight years, Gutierrez says his proudest accomplishment is creating pristine parks for the community to enjoy. “We’ve done so much work on area parks over the years. When people arrive at our parks they know that someone is taking care of the upkeep, landscaping, making additions and improvements to playground equipment, and keeping it clean,” he said. During Dru Gutierrez’s tenure as Field Services Director, every single park in the District underwent improvements.