Fulfilling a longtime objective proposed during John Whitmire’s mayoral campaign, the state plans to deploy Department of Public Safety troopers to Houston in an effort to curb violent crime.

Flanked by DPS officials and victims’ advocates, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement during a visit to the Houston area on Wednesday. He said DPS officers, Texas Rangers and local law enforcement will be part of a new state-appointed task force aimed at reducing repeat violent offenders across Harris County.

RELATED: John Whitmire's plan to bring DPS troopers to Houston has yielded mixed results in Austin and Dallas

It comes about two years after Houston mayor and then-state senator John Whitmire vowed that the move to deploy state troops in the area would chip away at the city’s crim

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