Houston’s mayor has decided to replace the city’s police chief, Troy Finner, after the discovery of hundreds of thousands of uninvestigated cases, including over 4,000 sexual assault allegations. Mayor John Whitmire stated that accepting Finner’s retirement was necessary for the police department to move forward under new leadership. Whitmire had initially expressed confidence in Finner but changed his stance after learning about an email from 2018 that informed Finner about dismissed incident reports. This led to the appointment of assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite as acting chief.
Finner, who had joined the Houston police department in 1990 and became chief in 2021, had acknowledged the use of an internal code that led to the dismissal of thousands of cases. The discovery of this code, as well as the email from 2018, raised questions about Finner’s knowledge of these issues and their impact on the department’s operations. Satterwhite, a 34-year veteran of the police department and a close friend of Finner, took on the role of acting chief amidst these challenges. He emphasized the need for transparency and improvement within the department to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
The city council members expressed gratitude for Finner’s contributions to the community’s safety and well-being during his tenure as chief. However, the focus now lies on addressing the systemic issues within the police department and ensuring that cases, especially those involving violent crimes and sexual assaults, are properly handled. Whitmire launched a review by an independent panel to investigate the uninvestigated cases and provide a public update on the progress. The Houston Area Women’s Center, which supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, highlighted the importance of resolving investigations for the well-being of survivors.
The staffing crisis within police departments nationwide, as highlighted by reports from the Police Executive Research Forum, poses additional challenges for law enforcement agencies like the Houston Police Department. The declining number of applications and resignations among younger officers, coupled with retirements among older officers, has contributed to a shortage of personnel within the department. This shortage, along with ongoing scrutiny over policing practices, has intensified the need for effective leadership and accountability within the department.
Finner’s retirement marks the end of a challenging period for the Houston Police Department, during which internal issues came to light and raised concerns about the department’s ability to effectively address crime and protect the community. Moving forward, Satterwhite and the department’s leadership will need to address the root causes of these problems, implement measures to prevent similar issues from occurring, and rebuild trust with the community. The appointment of new leadership and the ongoing review by the independent panel reflect the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that justice is served for all residents of Houston.
