HPD suspended case update: Houston Area Women’s Center partners with police for training following scandal

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As the Houston Police Department continues to deal with fallout from the suspended case scandal, the agency is partnering with the Houston Area Women’s Center for training.

HAWC will talk about the new partnership at 9:30 a.m. You can stream their comments on ABC13’s 24/7 live channel.

HPD revealed in February that more than a quarter of a million cases filed by crime victims since 2016 had been suspended due to insufficient staffing. The cases were coded “Suspended – Understaffing.”

According to then-chief Troy Finner, 4,000 of those cases were reports of sexual assault.

In the months since, HPD said it launched and completed an investigation into how and when the code was created as well as when it was brought to Finner’s attention.

But in early May, Finner retired and the investigation was reopened.

Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite is serving as interim police chief.

As part of the investigation, an independent review panel was tasked with examining HPD’s handling of suspended records.

The group, which first met in March, recommended working with HAWC to review and update HPD’s victim notification protocols. He also recommended mandatory survivor-centered, trauma-informed HAWC training for all members of HPD’s Special Victims Division.

Any victims whose contact information has changed since the time of their report can call (713) 308-1180 or email [email protected].

HPD Suspended Case Coverage: