Houston Police Chief Retires Amid Investigation into Suspended Cases

Chief Troy Finner‘s sudden retirement from the Houston Police Department has come amidst a significant investigation into suspended criminal cases, leading Mayor John Whitmire to appoint Assistant Police Chief Larry Satterwhite as the acting chief.

The internal probe focuses on a code used in over 264,000 cases to suspend investigations due to a lack of personnel, including approximately 4,000 sexual assault cases.

Recent reports revealed an email suggesting Finner knew of the code as far back as 2018, contrasting with his earlier claims of learning about it in 2021.

Whitmire mentioned that the decision for Finner’s retirement was a mutual dialogue, emphasizing that the revelation of the email played a significant role in the chief’s departure.

In a late-night email to city staff, Whitmire expressed confidence in Satterwhite’s ability to maintain high departmental standards in the interim role.

During the investigation, it was disclosed that Finner had stated no recollection of the 2018 email exchange in question about the suspended code, creating further scrutiny.

Satterwhite, appointed as acting chief, clarified his limited recollection of the meeting where Finner allegedly learned of the code in late 2021.

The prolonged internal investigation spearheaded by Finner remains ongoing, with the assurance from Whitmire that findings will be publicly disclosed upon completion.

With no immediate plans for selecting a permanent chief, Satterwhite will lead the department, as Houston braces for a transitional period in law enforcement leadership.