The Houston Police Department is currently working to contact thousands of sexual assault victims whose cases were suspended due to a policy that allowed officers to improperly classify investigations in 2016. The former interim police chief, Larry Satterwhite, revealed that over 260,000 cases, including more than 4,000 reported rapes, were affected by this policy. A comprehensive report has been released detailing the origins of the policy, its impact on cases, and the steps being taken to address the issue.
The department identified cases where the “SL” code, which stands for “Suspended-Lack of Personnel,” was used improperly. This was discovered when officers responded to a robbery in 2023, leading to the arrest of a suspect linked to a sexual assault case from 2022 that was suspended. Former Police Chief Troy Finner retired amid an internal investigation into the suspended cases, and J. Noe Diaz has been appointed as the new chief.
To address the suspended sexual assault cases, the department has assembled a special team of investigators and dedicated resources to review and prioritize these incidents. A call line and email address have been set up for victims seeking information, and efforts have been made to contact victims via various means. Despite efforts to address the backlog, concerns have been raised about the impact on investigating nonviolent crimes due to limited resources.
No disciplinary action has been taken against department employees for using the “SL” code, with Satterwhite highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in addressing the failures of past leadership.
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