When Harold Hurtt was named Houston’s top cop in February 2004, he gave all of us a hint of his management style.

“I am not afraid to make decisions,” he’d said.

Since he has taken over as chief, he’s implemented a controversial policy that requires every top manager inside HPD to change jobs every few years.

“For instance we have Capt. Dale Brown,” Chief Hurtt said. “He is out at the northeast station, and he has spent a lot of time in investigations. Can you imagine the amount of teaching he can do to new officers that come to patrol and that’s a large station and a busy area?”

In the last few weeks, Hurtt moved around all of his executive assistant chiefs, including Chief Martha Montalvo, who was overseeing the crime lab.

Chief Hurtt believes it creates a more productive police force.

“And it also prevents people from creating their own little kingdom,” he said.

But these changes are not always popular.

Many on the command staff privately tell 11 News it’s hard to take ownership — let’s say over the robbery division — when you know you’re not going to stay there.

They believe his “mass moves” make their jobs harder than they need to be.

Their main complaints: Valuable professional expertise gets thrown by the wayside, and so are relationships with other law enforcement agencies and community leaders.

“There is not always a lot of agreement when I transfer people because people feel comfortable where they are,” Chief Hurtt said. “But I have learned in this business that when you feel comfortable you start making mistakes, you kind of let down, it becomes a routine versus that you are always challenging yourself and acknowledging others in the organization.”

Chief Hurtt said his decisions help create great leaders.

Since 2004, he’s has had a rough ride as Houston’s police chief. Two years ago, the city’s largest police union surveyed officers whose complaints added up to a vote of no confidence.

But the chief has survived, and he remains committed to his controversial management style.