Houston police chief abruptly retires after emails released

On the same day as reports of emails showing that Houston’s police chief knew about the department’s “understaffing” code that was used to suspend some 4,000 rape investigations, Troy Finner sent a letter to the mayor announcing his retirement.

In February, Finner said the “understaffing” code was used to suspend the investigation of 264,000 incident reports from 2016 to 2021. That’s when he said he became aware code for the first time and ordered that it cease to be used. Published reports say internal emails show Finner knew the code as early as 2018.

Finner grew up in Houston’s 5th Precinct and has worked with the Houston Police Department since 1990. He was chosen by Mayor Sylvester Turner to succeed Art Acevedo in March 2021. Current Mayor John Whitmire accepted Finner’s retirement in letter Tuesday evening and sent notice to Houston Police Department employees that HPD Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite will serve as interim police chief.