Houston Police Officers’ Union requests for Chief Troy Finner to step back from investigation involving HPD suspended cases

The Houston Police Department (HPD) has been under scrutiny after an independent panel was tasked with reviewing over 261,000 cases that were suspended due to lack of staff. Chief Troy Finner, who has been at the center of this investigation, is now being asked to step aside by the Houston Police Officers’ Union.

In a letter sent to Chief Finner and Mayor John Whitmire, the union requested that Finner be recused from any involvement in the investigative findings or outcomes of the case. The union cited an inherent conflict of interest among HPD leadership as one of the reasons for their request.

Chief Finner has stated that officers first started using the “SL” code in 2016. He claims that when he learned about it in November 2021, he immediately told officers to stop using the code. However, a recent investigation found that the code has been used over 114,200 times since then.

Mayor Whitmire has vowed to personally report the panel’s findings to the public in order to ensure transparency, credibility, and accountability in the department. The panel members include individuals from various backgrounds such as former council members, law enforcement officials, and community leaders.

Despite Chief Finner’s efforts to address the issue, two assistant chiefs have been demoted in connection to the suspended cases. The police union, however, believes that Finner’s involvement and previous statements should also be subject to the investigation, as they question the accuracy of the information he has provided.

The union emphasized that they are not casting doubt on Chief Finner’s character but are simply advocating for a fair and impartial investigation. They want to prevent history from repeating itself, where higher-ups claim ignorance of what is happening in their department and shift blame onto their subordinates.

As the investigation into the suspended cases continues, the community is looking for answers and accountability from the Houston Police Department. The goal is to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future and that the department can rebuild trust with the public.

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