There’s a new man at the helm of Texas’ biggest police union, and his priority is to put more officers on the streets.

Before the last ballots were counted, it was clear that officer Gary Blankinship — a 25-year veteran of the Houston Police Department — will be the new HPOU president succeeding Hans Marticiuc.

For the last 15 years Blankinship has been on the union’s board.

“And I focused most of my career on helping the critically injured officers and disabled officers after my partner was killed in the line of duty,” Blankinship said. “That was really kind of motivated me.”

Blankinship’s partner was James Irby. He was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in June 1990.

Blankinship said while the critical manpower shortage is his No. 1 concern, improving the officers’ ability to call for help is on his agenda too.

HPD doesn’t have enough working radios, and there hasn’t been a priority to buy more because it’s being forced to switch to a digital system by 2012 -- a system that could costs more than $100 million.

“We’re trying to get officers all assigned a radio,” Blankinship said. “This situation that happened over the weekend: That possibly might not have happened if the officer had a handheld radio with him.”

Officer Hill was shot while working off-duty, an extra job, at the apartment complex where he lives.

Blankinship said working or not, all officers should have a handheld radio available.

“And we would like to move forward for all officers being assigned because they are subject to being called to duty at anytime even off duty,” he said.

Perhaps Blankinship’s toughest task will be the new HPD contract with the city, which runs out in 2010. The contract will determine officer salaries and benefits.

Marticiuc will remain president through the end of the year. He held the position for 12 years.