HOUSTON – On Tuesday, KPRC 2 Investigates reached out to the offices of all City of Houston council members for a reaction to the Houston Police Department suspending more than 260,000 cases, including 4,000 sexual assault cases, as a result of a lack of manpower.
Below are the comments we have secured and will update them as they come in.
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Here are the following councilmembers who have responded or spoken with KPRC 2 Investigates:
Council Member Amy Peck – District A
“It’s not good. I’m waiting to see the result of the investigation and exactly the numbers here and what happened, but we need the details because this is not ok, it’s disrespectful to everybody.”
Council Member Tarsha Jackson – District B
“It’s horrible, the fact that people reach out to the police ... we already don’t feel like the police listen to us when it’s a sexual assault, and to know that your case was not heard and thrown out is disappointing.”
Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz – District D
“As a woman, I’m going to have a great sensitivity to anything that is being done primarily against women. I do have a problem with the fact that this has not been addressed appropriately. I look to the mayor for leadership regarding what needs to be done and certainly to Chief Finner who I believe has expressed his accountability and hopefully we will move forward.”
Council Member Mary Nan Huffman – District G
“We know that victims of sexual assault are less likely to report in the first place. To learn that the cases of these victims, who had the courage to come forward, were never investigated due to a lack of manpower is absolutely appalling. We need to prioritize the most serious crimes and get this problem fixed.”
Council Member Mario Castillo – District H
“I can give you a comment later.”
Council Member Joaquin Martinez – District I
“I stand with my colleagues. We need to get to the bottom of it.”
Council Member Ed Pollard – District J
“We know that now that it has been made public. We know now it is a huge issue, it is very disappointing and we need to take all the necessary steps to correct it.”
Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum - District K
“I think everyone deserves to have their cases investigated, but I also think that it is prudent for us to get all the information before we rush to judgment.”
Council Member Willie Davis - At-Large Position 2
“I am concerned with three things, #1 How did it happen? #2 What are we going to do to fix it? #3, what are we going to do that we never go back there again?”
Council Member Twila Carter – At-Large Position 3
“We must prioritize the investigation and provide the resources necessary to address the outcome.”
Council Member Letitia Plummer – At-Large Position 4
“I already gave my comment last time.”
Here are the following councilmembers who have not responded or spoken to KPRC 2 Investigates:
- Council Member Abbie Kamin – District C (Immediate Past-Chair Committee on Public Safety)
- Council Member Fred Flickinger – District E
- Council Member Tiffany Thomas – District F
- Council Member Julian Ramirez – At-Large Position 1
- Council Member Sallie Alcorn – At-Large Position 5