In a startling revelation, Houston’s Police Chief Troy Finner has publicly apologized for the failure of his department to investigate more than 264,000 cases, including over 4,000 involving sexual assault, over the past eight years due to staffing shortages.
Chief Finner’s apology comes after he announced last month that hundreds of thousands of incident reports, encompassing serious crimes like sexual assaults and property offenses, were never pursued for investigation. These cases were marked with an internal code citing a lack of available personnel, representing approximately 10% of all incident reports filed in the past eight years.
During a news conference on Thursday, Chief Finner expressed deep regret to victims, their families, and the community for the department’s use of the code, particularly in cases of sexual assault and other violent crimes. He acknowledged that such actions were not in line with the department’s commitment to trauma-informed and victim-centric services and assured that the code would never be used again.
Mayor John Whitmire has taken decisive action in response to this crisis by announcing the appointment of an independent panel to investigate the police department’s handling of these dropped cases. The mayor emphasized the public’s demand for transparency, answers, and accountability in light of these disturbing revelations.
The internal code in question was implemented in 2016, predating Chief Finner’s tenure, and continued to be used during the administrations preceding his appointment. While Chief Finner ordered the cessation of its use upon discovering it in November 2021, he was shocked to learn in February 2024 that it was still being employed, particularly in dismissing adult sexual assault cases.
An ongoing internal affairs investigation aims to uncover why the order to stop using the code was not followed and how its use initially originated within the department. Already, two assistant chiefs have been demoted over their involvement in this matter, signaling the department’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
As the investigation progresses, Chief Finner and city officials remain committed to rectifying the systemic failures that led to the dismissal of these cases. Restoring public trust in the Houston Police Department and ensuring justice for victims will be paramount priorities moving forward.