Cob, don't rely on just the City of Houston. Have you written to these folks, registered letter, return receipt requested? Suspected arson by the homeowner's carrier's claims adjuster is referred here for investigation. An arson report is a public document. It's worth a letter. Refer to the arson case file #, date of incident, address, insurance company, named insureds: Mrs. Chief, Alwayswatching - IIRC.
Explain that as a close, long-time friend of Herb Meadows, you are requesting a status report; that you have been unable to obtain any information from Houston Arson Division since the first report was issued on ________. Include a copy of it along with your letter. Ask them to inform you of any fee required to obtain status report. Make a couple of copies of your letter in case you have to write the state's atty general down the road. You'll be able to demonstrate to that office of the effort you've made, prior to writing him.
You might preface all of the above by writing to the arson investigators, and that chief with registered letters, return receipt requested. It leaves a deeper impression than just a phone call or email, imo. Plus you'll have all that 'pending' crap in writing, when they respond. That might raise their eyebrows a notch or two. If they *don't* respond, you can demonstrate that to the atty gen down the road, too, with copies of *those* letters.
I'll go ahead and send a letter to the insurance company with the information which I do have and hope for the best.
The idea about the letter to the Arson Investigators and the Chief is great!
For some reason, I never thought about sending them a registered letter.
Your advice is invaluable, dear friend.
Thank you.