The Controversial HPD Code: A Closer Look
On Wednesday, Acting Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite will address the City Council regarding the controversial HPD code that led to the suspension of over 250,000 incident reports. This code, known as the “pause-lack of staffing” ordinance, is used in police reports when no detectives are available to investigate a case.
Origins and Implementation of the Code
The origins of the code can be traced back to 2014 when HPD was developing its Report Management System (RMS). Initially intended to organize statistical reporting, the code later found its way to being used by the Special Victims Unit. The committee investigating the code’s origins will shed light on how it was implemented across various departments within the department.
Review and Next Steps
Current HPD Chief Troy Finner highlighted the issue of potentially thousands of uninvestigated sex crime cases due to the code. After the formation of the committee, cases with the code were reviewed, revealing both missed opportunities and instances where investigative leads were present. Satterwhite is expected to outline the steps HPD will take to ensure the code is no longer utilized.
Throughout the investigation and subsequent actions taken in response to the code controversy, transparency and accountability have been key focal points. Moving forward, the HPD leadership aims to restore public trust and ensure that all cases are thoroughly investigated, without the hindrance of outdated codes.
