Houston council members react to Chief Finner’s retirement

Houston – After 34 years with the Houston Police Department, Chief Troy Finner’s retirement announcement comes amid an avalanche of headlines, including the investigation into the suspension of 264,000 incident reports in due to “lack of staff”.

SUGGESTED: HPD Chief Finner implicated in 2018 email using code ‘suspended understaffing’

The development prompted varied responses from City Council members, reflecting Finner’s leadership and the challenges the department faces.

Council member Carolyn Evans Shabazz questioned evidence suggesting Finner had prior knowledge of the suspended cases, pointing to a 2018 email chain in which Finner was involved in a conversation regarding the “understaffing” code .

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Council members Letitia Plummer, Edward Pollard and Martha Castex-Tatum all weighed in on Chief Finner’s tenure, each offering their perspective on his leadership and integrity.

At-Large Council Member 4 Letitia Plummer praised Finner’s character, describing him as a man of “the highest integrity.” However, she also demanded that former chief Art Acevedo be held accountable for his role in perpetuating the criminal case suspension scandal.

Similarly, Houston City Council District J Councilor Edward Pollard praised Finner’s leadership during turbulent times. Pollard expressed his belief that Finner did not intentionally mislead the public regarding his knowledge of the suspended criminal investigations.

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Houston City Council Member – District K Martha Castex-Tatum recognized Chief Finner’s 34-year career with the Houston Police Department, highlighting his service with “the highest integrity and professionalism.”

However, amid this praise, concerns have been raised about the handling of suspended cases. Houston Mayor John Whitmire expressed dismay upon learning that Finner knew about the cases three years earlier than expected. Mayor Whitmire fears the department has lost focus on reducing violent crime amid the scandal.

During a discussion about the city’s crime hot spots, Councilwoman Mary Nan Huffman highlighted the challenges Houston faces. In response, Mayor Whitmire acknowledged the strain on resources, attributing some of it to the distraction caused by suspended cases.

SUGGESTED: HPD Internal Affairs Investigation Complete, Suspended Reports Still Under Review

“I think it would be accurate to say that we currently have more hot spots than we can cover with the lack of resources we have. And as I told retired Chief Finner earlier, a part of the consideration is that ongoing investigations and suspended cases had become such a distraction that I was convinced the department had lost some of its focus on hot spots, response time and I could review a list of things that I think were on hiatus due to the passage of time and the new revelations about these investigations.

The announcement of Chief Troy Finner’s retirement sparked a broader conversation about the priorities and challenges facing the Houston Police Department. As the city confronts these issues, the voices of its council members and leaders will continue to shape the path forward for law enforcement and public safety in Houston.