Recent revelations have surfaced regarding more than 264,000 cases filed with the Houston Police Department over the past eight years that were ultimately dropped. This has led to concerns about potential broader issues within the agency that may require attention.
Chief Troy Finner, in a meeting with reporters and community leaders, acknowledged the loss of public trust due to the scandal. The incident reports, which included serious offenses such as sexual assaults and property crimes, were not submitted for investigation as officers assigned them an internal code citing a lack of available personnel.
While Finner recognized the impact on public trust, he stopped short of declaring the mishandling of these reports as indicative of larger cultural problems within the department. This comes after a 2019 drug raid revealed significant issues within the narcotics unit, including lack of supervision and numerous errors in cases.
Accountability measures are being pursued, with an internal affairs investigation expected to conclude by the end of April. Mayor John Whitmire has established an independent panel to review the handling of the dropped cases, resulting in the demotion of two assistant chiefs.
Of the 264,000 incident reports, the department has reviewed 67,533 so far. Efforts are focused on addressing the more than 4,000 suspended sexual assault reports, with over 3,800 already reviewed.
The internal code in question was implemented in 2016, predating Chief Finner's tenure, who only became chief in April 2021. Finner became aware of officers using the code in November 2021 and ordered its cessation. However, it was discovered in February 2022 that the code was still being used to dismiss adult sexual assault cases.
Finner attributed the oversight to various challenges faced by the department, including a surge in crime during the pandemic, officer shortages, and the tragic events at the Astroworld music festival. He emphasized accountability and transparency in the ongoing investigation to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Community activists, including Cesar Espinosa of FIEL, emphasized the importance of full transparency and accountability in the investigation and subsequent actions to ensure that the public understands the gravity of the situation and the steps being taken to address it.
