KATY MAGAZINE l JUNE 2019
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy Magazine is profiling a series of notable first responders in our Everyday Heroes section.
Ted Heap
Harris County Constable, Precinct 5
A Natural Fit
"I always wanted to be in a service position," says Ted Heap, Harris County Constable, Precinct 5. "It just seemed like a natural fit." Heap has been serving Harris County for 36 years. These are his streets and his neighbors. "I've worked every shift, every rank, and moved up the old fashioned way of hard work," says Heap.
Environmental Crimes Unit
During his career, Heap has concentrated on developing new programs to serve the community.
"I founded the Environmental Crimes Unit (ECU) in 1993 and it's the first of its kind." The goal is to stop advanced environmental crimes such as illegal dumping, emitting chemicals, and solid waste dumping such as trash. Today, this program works across 13 county regions.
Animal Cruelty Task Force
Heap has also orchestrated the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force. In 2017 he partnered with Crime Stoppers of Houston to form a city-wide Anti-Animal Cruelty Partner Council. They brought together key groups and agencies to reevaluate how crimes against animals are reported and responded to within Harris County and the City of Houston.
"It's been a dream working to bring these non-profits and government entities together with the common goal of making a difference to animals," says Heap. "In most cases, our residents see a problem but didn't know how to act and report. The objective is simple, streamline the reporting process and improve our response to reacting to animal cruelty, neglect, and abandonment."
Heap's Stabilizing Force
Heap stays busy on various projects and programs, but explains: "A title, a badge isn't who I am. Everything is a spoke in my wheel," says Heap. "My wife Jennifer, of 36 years, is the stabilizing force in me." They have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
The Heaps also find support in their church, St. Edith Stein Catholic Community. Heap serves his community as a deacon and says his faith helps keep him grounded.
Supporting Katy Wolf Pack
Heap's younger son Andrew is a member of the Katy Wolf Pack Texas Special Olympics team, where he is a three-sport gold medalist. Andrew has Willam's Syndrome.
Heap is a spokesman and coach for the Katy Wolf Pack. "We gave up land further out in the county to move to Katy for the interaction and networks to help Andrew," says Heap. "The Katy community and support for families for special needs children is wonderful."
Continued Growth, Continued Cooperation
Heap praises the growth of the Katy community. "When you have growth it's imperative for first responders to grow in proportion and with the population and to stay ahead of growth," says Heap. "What's important is the continued growth and cooperation of all the different first responders entities. That's how we stay a great community."
Katy Magazine would like to thank Constable Ted Heap for his dedicated service to the people of Harris County, Precinct 5.