Houston’s mayor has replaced the city’s police chief, Troy Finner, citing the need for new leadership as the department continues to face intense scrutiny over the investigation of hundreds of thousands of cases, including over 4,000 sexual assault allegations. Mayor John Whitmire stated that the ongoing investigation and questions surrounding Finner were impacting the morale of the department and the confidence of the community in the police force. Finner had previously disclosed that incident reports over the past eight years had not been submitted for investigation, leading to a lack of trust in the department.
Despite initially expressing confidence in Finner, Mayor Whitmire decided to accept Finner’s retirement, following the discovery that Finner had been informed about dismissed incident reports in a 2018 email. This revelation was deemed the “final straw” by Whitmire, prompting him to appoint Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite as the acting chief. Finner, in a statement on social media, acknowledged the challenges faced during his tenure but highlighted measures taken to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. Satterwhite, who has been with the police department for 34 years, expressed his commitment to improving the situation and rebuilding trust within the department.
The use of an internal code to dismiss cases due to a lack of personnel came to light earlier this year, leading to an independent review by an external panel initiated by Mayor Whitmire. The Houston Area Women’s Center, a non-profit supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, refrained from commenting on Finner’s retirement, emphasizing the high toll that unresolved investigations have on sexual assault survivors. Police departments nationwide are facing staffing challenges as officers resign and retire, with a decline in applications for vacancies amidst calls for police reform.
Amidst the staffing crisis in police departments, a report by the Police Executive Research Forum revealed that small and medium agencies have seen an increase in sworn officers compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, large agencies are still experiencing a staffing shortage, indicating the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies across the country. The city council members expressed gratitude for Finner’s contributions to the community’s safety and well-being, acknowledging his years of service in the Houston police department. As the department navigates through this period of transition, the focus remains on rebuilding trust, addressing the staffing issues, and ensuring a transparent and accountable law enforcement system.
