HOUSTON — Precinct 4 is boosting its arsenal with more AR-15s to help combat the surge in violent crimes across Houston.
Constable Mark Herman said Monday said the revolving door bond system that puts repeat offenders back on the streets is partly to blame.
“Harris County has become the county of little or no consequence when it comes to committing violent crimes against citizens or attacking law enforcement," Herman said in a statement. "The current policies implement [sic] by some Judges has emboldened suspected criminals to go right back out and commit more crimes."
Herman said he believes more powerful weapons will help better protect his deputies and the public.
Precinct 4 Deputy Kareem Atkins was shot and killed last October with an AR-15, according to investigators.
RELATED: Bond denied for man accused of killing Precinct 4 Deputy Kareem Atkins, injuring two others
Atkins and two other deputies were gunned down outside a north Houston nightclub when they confronted a robbery suspect while working extra security jobs.
Eddie Miller, 19, was arrested and charged with capital murder two months later. In March, a Harris County judge denied bond for Miller.
Violence against law enforcement officers
Already this year, there have been at least half a dozen law enforcement officers shot in the Houston area, including Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez. He was off-duty last Thursday when he was killed in a shootout after confronting catalytic converter thieves in a grocery store parking lot.
In January, Harris County Precinct 5 Corporal Charles Galloway was shot and killed during a traffic stop.
A few days later, three HPD officers were shot and wounded by a suspect using an illegal switch that allow a gun to fire 30 rounds in two seconds. All three officers survived.
The ATF later said the suspect in that shooting used a conversion kit to turn a regular weapon into a mini machine gun.
In February, San Jacinto County Precinct 1 Constable Deputy Neil Adams was gunned down while working an extra job at PlazAmericas Mall in southwest Houston.
Herman said his deputy constables who've been assigned the AR-15 rifles have been trained and are certified to carry them. They cost approximately $1,000 each, according to Herman.