Houston – What began with a tweet has resulted in a Houston Police Department scandal now entering its second month.
Since HPD Chief Troy Finner informed Houstonians that sexual assault investigations had been “suspended” KPRC 2 Investigates has been asking tough questions of HPD and City Hall.
Since the investigation was launched, two Assistant Chiefs have been demoted and now law enforcement sources tell KPRC 2 Investigates multiple HPD Commanders are being asked questions about the over 4,000 sexual assault investigations that were suspended, “I think I probably could have completed this in two weeks but I’m not Internal Affairs,” said Ray Hunt, Executive Director of the Houston Police Officers Union.
Hunt expressed concerns Monday with Finner handing down disciplinary actions in an investigation the chief is at the center of, “Remember, the chief of police determines the final discipline on a case, is that fair if the chief is a part of the investigation that that person also makes the determination? That’s a question as to whether or not this mayor wants to dig into and say, ‘Do I think it’s fair to my officers, do I think it’s fair to my members to be investigated and the final discipline be issued by someone who also is being questioned on this case?’” said Hunt.
KPRC 2 Investigates has persistently been asking questions about IAD’s investigation, considering they report to Chief Finner. And that questioning came up from us even before Mayor Whitmire announced his independent panel to oversee HPD’s investigation.
“I don’t believe they are going to be an investigatory committee. I believe they are going to be more of an oversight committee,” said Hunt.
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KPRC 2 did ask HPD and Chief Finner if he had been questioned or asked to submit a letter by his Internal Affairs officers. We had not heard back from Chief Finner or his communications team when we published this story.