HOUSTON – The Houston Police Officers Union sent a letter to Mayor John Whitmire on Monday, requesting that Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner be recused from the investigation and outcomes of the department’s suspended cases scandal.
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The letter comes after Mayor Whitmire last week officially launched an investigation into sexual assault and other criminal investigations that had been “suspended” dating back to 2015. It also comes weeks after KPRC 2 Investigates first posed the question as to how IAD can properly investigate Chief Finner if the chief can direct IAD the way he wants to.
Since the investigation was launched, two Assistant Chiefs have been demoted.
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 over 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.
In the three-page letter, the HPOU asks Mayor Whitmire to question Finner on eight questions about the suspended cases and his senior executive command staff’s knowledge of the cases.
KPRC 2 Investigates has reached out to Mayor John Whitmire’s team for comment in response to the letter. We are waiting for his team to get back with a statement.
Read the full letter below:
