Mayor Whitmire Names New Police Chief to Lead
On Friday, Mayor John Whitmire named former Texas Ranger J. Noe Diaz the City of Houston’s next Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department.
Since March 2019, Diaz has served as the Chief of Police for the Katy Police Department and has worked his entire professional career in various law enforcement positions while assuming greater responsibility and gaining the respect of colleagues and the community.
Diaz’s career in law enforcement began in 1987 as a Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officer, a role he held until 1994. The same year, he completed the University of Houston-Downtown Police Academy and joined the Harris County Constable Precinct Five Office. In 1996, the Texas Department of Public Safety selected Diaz to attend DPS Academy A-96. Upon completing the academy, Diaz was assigned to the Katy Highway Patrol Office as a DPS Trooper.
“I trust him, I have confidence in him, and I want Houstonians to know we will have the best Chief of Police and the safest big city in the nation,” said Mayor Whitmire. “Noe Diaz knows how I feel about transparency. We are not going to tolerate bad practices. I am excited about this appointment and thank Chief Diaz for his public service. I think the best days for the Houston Police Department are before us.”
In 2001, he was promoted to the Narcotics Division of the State Police stationed in Houston. During his seven years as a narcotics sergeant, Diaz was assigned to the Harris County Organized Crime Task Force, HPD, ATF, DEA, and the FBI.
In 2008, Diaz was appointed a Texas Ranger and served briefly in Rio Grande City, Texas, until returning to the Houston Office. He was assigned as the Public Corruption Ranger for Company A (Greater Houston Area) for over ten years, working on various high-profile public corruption investigations. Diaz was assigned to the FBI Public Corruption Border Task Force as a Task Force Officer and maintains top-secret clearance.
Diaz earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston- Downtown (100 Club Scholarship Recipient) and a Master of Science in Criminology from Lamar University. He is a 263rd FBI National Academy and FBI Texas Command College graduate. Diaz also graduated from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, School of Police Staff and Command in 2024 and is enrolled in the University of Houston Certified Public Manager Program starting in 2025.
He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Texas Police Chief’s Association and has over 7,000 Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training hours.
Diaz replaces Larry J. Satterwhite, who has served as Acting Police Chief Since May 2024. Chief Satterwhite has accepted a new assignment as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Houston City Council is scheduled to confirm Diaz and Satterwhite’s appointments at the August 14 meeting.