Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and former Mayor Sylvester Turner were among the members who made remarks about Troy Finner’s resignation as Houston police chief.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Several community and law enforcement members have commented on the sudden departure of Troy Finner as Houston police chief.

“Before you can impeach someone who has done great and loving work, you must seek to discredit that person’s work and leadership. Those in elected office and leaders who advocate for the greater good of our community need to find their voices,” former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said shortly after Finner’s retirement was revealed Tuesday night.

He added Wednesday morning, “Chief Troy Finner dedicated over 34 years of his life to HPD. For the past three years he has led the largest police force in the South West through difficult and conflicting times, and under his direct leadership. , crime tends to decrease. His departure is a loss for HPD and our city. »

Mayor John Whitmire announced that Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite will assume the role of interim police chief.

“I have accepted the retirement of Troy Finner as Chief of Police and have named Larry Satterwhite Acting Chief of Police effective at 10:31 p.m. this evening,” Whitmire wrote in an email sent to HPD employees. “This decision comes out of full confidence in Acting Chief Satterwhite’s abilities to lead and uphold the high standards of our department.”

Satterwhite held the position of executive deputy chief, one of the highest ranks in the department. In this capacity, he directed the ministry’s field operations. HPD says this position works on crime and traffic issues in the city.

“I hope we support the agency, Chief Satterwhite, that most of you know,” Whitmire said during Wednesday morning’s city council meeting. “I’ve worked with him for years. He’s been with the department for 34 years. He was actually acting chief when Chief Finner left town. I know the department and Houstonians are on good terms with Chief Satterwhite. “

READ MORE: Who is Larry Satterwhite? What to know about HPD’s new interim chief after Troy Finner’s resignation

So how did we get here?

Finner had worked at the department since 1990 and had spent 12 years as a parole officer. He became police chief in 2021, replacing former chief Art Acevedo.

Finner “retired” from his position amid questions over whether he knew about a code that suspended more than 260,000 cases years earlier than the timeline he had given the public.

In February, the now-former chief revealed that thousands of sexual assault investigations had been suspended due to understaffing, which was associated with the code “Suspended-Understaffed” or “SL.”

In the weeks following the mid-February revelation, Finner announced the true scale of suspended cases: more than 264,000 investigations suspended since 2016 due to staffing shortages.

While Acevedo was chief at the start of this timeline, ABC13 pressed Finner as he learned of the cases and his actions to resolve unresolved issues.

At a press conference on March 7, Finner told reporters that he first became aware of the code in November 2021 – a day before the Astroworld tragedy – and ordered his executives to no longer never use it. However, an email obtained by 13 investigators shows he knew the code was being used at least once in 2018.

13 Investigators first reported this email just hours before Whitmire announced he was accepting Finner’s “retirement.”

RELATED: 13 Investigations: HPD Chief Finner Received Email About Code Suspended in 2018

The July 20, 2018, email was addressed to several high-ranking HPD leaders, including Acevedo and Finner, who was executive deputy chief at the time.

The email mentions a specific road rage case marked “Suspended – Understaffing.” He said the case was characterized that way, even though a witness identified a suspect.

Finner responds to the email saying, “This is unacceptable, look into the matter and follow up with me.”

The email does not report issues with the suspended code or indicate how often it is used.

After the report, Finner released a statement, insisting he had no recollection of the email before Tuesday.

“I have always been honest and never tried to mislead anyone about anything, including this investigation. Until I was shown the email today ‘I had no recollection of it today, I have since been informed that it was already included in the internal investigation. I promised a thorough, independent investigation, and my lack of knowledge of this email constitutes evidence. of my independence,” the press release reads in part.

Meanwhile, Acevedo told 13 Investigates he feels horrible for Finner and maintains he knows nothing about the code.

Sources close to the situation told ABC13 reporter Courtney Fischer that it was difficult for Whitmire to look past the 2018 email.

Other city and county officials also weighed in on Finner’s sudden retirement.

“I want to challenge anyone, sitting anywhere, to remember an email in 2018,” City Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said during Wednesday’s meeting.

“I wish my friend and partner in public safety, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, a happy retirement. It has been a true honor to work alongside him. I know I am not alone when I say that he will surely be missed,” Harris said. said County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

“Chief Troy Finner has always treated the men, women and citizens of Precinct 4 with the utmost respect,” Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said Wednesday. “He has always led from the front and stayed in the trenches fighting crime with all forces in law enforcement. We wish him the best and will support him in the future.”

ABC13 also spoke with HPOU President Doug Griffith, who said he wishes this had been handled differently and that going forward, Houston needs a leader “who will be honest with the public “.

When asked if Satterwire was that person, he said he might be, but that he didn’t know what the mayor thought about Satterwhite’s position being permanent.

“I hate to see HPD Chief Try Finner go. Chief Finner was an OUTSTANDING and dedicated public servant,” Rep. Ron Reynolds, chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, wrote in a Facebook post. I think he was thrown under the bus because of other people’s mistakes.”

At Wednesday morning’s City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum said she had “mixed opinions on this.”

“I am very disheartened by the news of Chief Finner’s resignation,” council member Edward Pollard said at the meeting. I know there was some controversy over the suspended reports, but I think he told the truth.”