Mayor John Whitmire announced the replacement of Houston’s police chief, Troy Finner, citing a need for new leadership as the department faced intense scrutiny over the mishandling of hundreds of thousands of cases, including over 4,000 sexual assault allegations. Whitmire emphasized that the ongoing investigation and questions surrounding Finner’s knowledge were impacting morale within the department, officer focus, and public confidence in the police force. Finner had revealed in February that incident reports dating back eight years had not been submitted for investigation due to a lack of personnel, with the internal code citing this reason. Despite an initial show of confidence in Finner, revelations that he had been aware of dismissed incident reports in a 2018 email led to his retirement.
Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite was appointed as the acting chief following Finner’s departure. Satterwhite acknowledged that the department had failed in handling the situation and expressed his commitment to improving the agency under his leadership. Finner, in a social media post, described his last few months as both challenging and painful due to the oversight of victims of violent crime not receiving appropriate care. However, he also mentioned that measures had been put in place to prevent such incidents in the future. He vowed that the department and the profession would emerge stronger from dealing with these challenges.
Regarding the revelation of the 2018 email and the internal code’s use included in it, Finner stated that he did not recall the specifics until shown the documentation. While some city council members expressed their gratitude to Finner for his contributions to Houston’s safety during his tenure, Whitmire initiated a review of the situation by an independent panel. The Houston Area Women’s Center, which provides support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, had previously highlighted the impact on survivors when investigations are not thoroughly conducted.
Police departments across the United States are encountering staffing challenges as officers retire or resign, particularly among younger recruits. The decline in applications to fill vacancies has been influenced by a national discussion on police conduct towards minorities. A report from the Police Executive Research Forum indicated an increase in sworn officers for small and medium agencies compared to pre-pandemic levels, but larger agencies still face shortfalls in staffing. The circumstances surrounding Finner’s retirement underscore the need for increased transparency, accountability, and reform within law enforcement agencies nationally.
Satterwhite acknowledged the difficulties of stepping into the acting chief role under the circumstances, given his longstanding friendship and shared history with Finner. While expressing his intention to address the challenges faced by the department promptly, he recognized that rebuilding trust with the community and ensuring accountability within the force would be critical moving forward. The ongoing investigations into the mishandling of cases and the implementation of corrective measures signal a commitment to improving the operational integrity of the Houston Police Department under new leadership. Finner’s acknowledgment of the failures during his tenure, as well as the steps taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future, reflect a commitment to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement and public safety.
