The Houston Police Department announced internal changes to how it will review and report homicides in Houston. That announcement came Tuesday, less than 24 hours after an 11 News investigation exposed the department has been keeping many homicides off the books.

The police are admitting to at least one major mistake with a homicide and they're putting safeguards in place to prevent others.  

After avoiding KHOU’s repeated attempts to talk until now- the Houston Police Department’s cone of silence, finally just broke.

Houston police Chief Harold Hurtt brought his top brass with him for a press conference Tuesday.

It came after an 11 News investigative report exposing how HPD undercounts homicide in Houston. The report revealed how the department sometimes keeps them off the books by calling deaths a “dead man” or “dead child” even though the Harris County Medical Examiner rules them homicides.

We asked Northeastern Professor James Fox to review dozens of specific cases, police reports, and the medical examiner’s findings.

Fox’s conclusion?

11 News: Do you believe the City of Houston is lying to the public?

Fox: “Well someone is. Someone is making these calls. Cases that are clear cut homicides are not being counted.”

And in response? Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt is ordering some internal changes to make sure his department doesn't overlook anything again.

“(An Assistant Chief) has been given the responsibility to revisit proper communication protocol between HPD and (the) Harris County Medical Examiners office.”

But what didn't Chief Hurtt want to talk about?

Take the case of Steven McCoy and what his parents were told about his death.

HPD says it was a suicide.

The problem?

This medical examiner’s autopsy found McCoy was shot not once, but three times in the chest and yet police claim McCoy somehow managed to also shoot himself in the head.

The back of the head.

The medical examiner’s ruling? Not suicide, but homicide. 

And what do McCoy's parents think of the police investigation?

“That sounds like a sweep it under the rug investigation,” said McCoy’s father. “I think that's what they did.”

Chief Hurtt called 11 News’ report on hidden homicides, "inaccurate and misleading."

He wanted to make sure 11news understood this: that a homicide at the Medical Examiner's Office really means one human being has killed another. Not all deaths ruled a homicide there should be reported as a murder according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting rules. For instance, justifiable homicides such as a person shooting a burglar are excluded from the reporting requirements.

It's something KHOU already knew. It's also why we asked two expert criminologists ( Dr. James Fox and Dr. Lawrence Sherman) to review cases and help Channel 11 rule out any deaths that should not have been reported, long before we broadcast our first report.

But before we could ask Chief Hurtt even one follow up question he walked out of the room.

The chief left his subordinates behind to answer for him.

11 News: The medical examiner ruled it was scientifically impossible for Steven McCoy to kill himself. What's your response?

Captain Steve Jett: “I don't necessarily agree with that. We've had differences of opinions before.”

Medical Examiner spokesperson Beverly Begay notes the M.E. stands behind its ruling.

Further, they tell 11 News the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office is one of the few offices in the nation to hold two of the most prestigious accreditations in forensic pathology. Begay also notes more than one forensic pathologist reviewed McCoy’s autopsy before coding it a homicide.

So we asked HPD homicide Captain Steve Jett if he still thought McCoy really shot himself.

“It's unusual. Very unusual. But it does happen,” said Jett.

We also asked about other homicide cases like a 2006 arson fire on Delmar Street in East Houston, the day before Valentine’s Day.

Joseph Chryar died in that fire. The Houston Fire Department’s conclusion?

HFD Arson Chief Roy Paul: “I know this fire's a homicide. And it should have been reported as a murder.”

11 News: Your response?

HPD Captain Jett: “You're exactly right. Chryar's death should have been ruled a murder."

It's the first homicide the Department is admitting to making a mistake with and to leaving it off last year's report.

And so?

They'll report Chryar's name on this year's homicide tally.