HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Thursday responded to claims that the former Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner was forced out of the department.
Finner, who told the Houston Chronicle that he was “pushed out” of the department, made the claims after as HPD Chief had said 264,000 incident reports, including more than 4,000 sexual assault reports, were suspended due to a “lack of personnel.” The reports dating back to 2016.
Finner said he knew about the cases being suspended back in 2021 and directed that it stop being used.
However, an internal document KPRC 2 Investigates obtained, showed Finner was looped in about the code being used by HPD in cases as far back as 2018.
HPD launched an internal affairs investigation but days after the closed investigation was reopened, Finner announced his retirement.
“Unfortunately, he chose to retire and he knows why he chose to retire,” Whimire said during an exclusive interview with KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Mario Diaz. “I’m not going to get into a public debate with Troy Finner. I don’t think it’s appropriate. What he came out and alleged, he knows is wrong, and we’ll get our report the HPD final review, hopefully next week, then the independent group that I appointed will give their review completion about a week later, so we’re on target,” said Whitmire
The internal affairs investigation into the Houston Police Department’s suspended cases was to be completed a second time by July 1, but that date was delayed, according to Whitmire. The mayor says he now expects it completed next week
“I thought it was a little disingenuous the way he put it out and acting like he’s a scapegoat when he threw two of his assistant chiefs under the bus within a week of making this alleged discovery that he knew about in 2021,” President of the Houston Police Officers Union, Doug Griffith said.
KPRC 2′s Mario Diaz has reached out to Finner for a comment on this, but he has yet to get back to us as of Thursday afternoon.
Here’s a timeline presenting how KPRC 2 Investigates has been following this story from the very beginning.
February 7, 2024
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner is made aware internally of a significant number of sex adult cases being suspended by investigators citing lack of manpower
February 16, 2024
HPD Chief Finner informs Houstonians for the first time that a significant number have been suspended due to “Lack of Personnel” in a social media post.
February 22, 2024
Chief Finner holds a news conference for the first time regarding the “unacceptable issue pertaining to adult sex crimes investigations” according to Finner. During the news conference, Finner admits that he first became aware of cases being suspended in November 2021 and ordered the practice to be stopped. On that same day Executive Assistant Chief Chandra Hatcher writes a letter to Chief Finner asking for an HPD investigation into the “issue”. In her letter, Hatcher admits to having attended a meeting in November 2021, “distinctly” recalling “heightened concern” as to how sexual assault cases were being investigated.
February 26, 2024
Chief Finner reveals over 264,000 various cases were not investigated department-wide, and criminal cases were suspended through “a lack of manpower” code.
March 1, 2024
Assistant Chiefs Kevin Deese and Ernest Garcia are demoted as a part of the fallout from what has now become a scandal for the department.
March 6, 2024
Mayor John Whitmire orders Independent Review of HPD Chief Troy Finner and the suspended cases
March 19, 2024
HPD’s Union requests recusal of HPD Chief Finner in suspended cases scandal
April 5, 2024
KPRC 2 Investigates uncovers some assault cases involving children were also suspended, according to HPD records.
May 3, 2024
KPRC 2 Investigates exposes Hatcher’s February letter to Chief Finner as not being completely accurate according to sources. The questions surrounding Hatcher’s integrity and what she wrote in the letter forces Internal Affairs to reopen the investigation.
April 30, 2024
Chief Finner says Internal Affairs investigation into Houston’s deactivated sex assault cases scandal is complete.
May 7, 2024
2018 email emerges showing Chief Finner knew of sexual assault cases in 2018, KRPC 2 Investigates Mario Diaz tracks Finner down for reaction. “It’s something that I didn’t know about and I definitely didn’t remember that,” said Finner in his final media availability during the scandal.
May 8, 2024
Chief Finner resigns, Mayor Whitmire says accepting Chief Troy Finner’s retirement from Houston PD was tough, “Made me sick”
May 9, 2024
Houston Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite provides an unclear response to when he first learned about SL code after KPRC 2 Investigates Mario Diaz pushes for answers. Satterwhite also confirms that Hatcher has to explain her letter.
June 18, 2024
Mayor Whitmire tells KPRC 2 Investigates Mario Diaz that he expects the Internal Affairs investigation in suspended cases to be wrapped up by July 1.
July 1, 2024
KPRC 2 Investigates has learned the Investigation still is not complete. Mayor Whitmire confirmed Monday morning in a call to KPRC 2 Investigates Mario Diaz that the internal affairs investigation would be completed not as scheduled but in “a few more days.”