HOUSTON — Houston Police Chief Troy Finner announced Tuesday that the department wrapped up its internal investigation into the 264,000 incident reports suspended because of a "lack of personnel" code.
What happens now? Members of the Independent Police Oversight Board and the Administration Disciplinary Committee will now review the investigation, as is customary. Houston Mayor John Whimire's outside review is still ongoing.
Finner said the investigation led to a total of 54 charges filed against 45 suspects. That's an increase from the number of charges filed earlier this month. He said 33 of the charges filed were misdemeanors and the other 21 were felony charges, including aggravated assault.
Though HPD completed its internal investigation, the department continues to review the incident reports suspended over the "lack of personnel" code.
Finner said about 10,000 reports are looked at each week, and as of Tuesday, nearly half of them (107,094) have been reviewed by an investigator or officer. Finner said almost half of those reports reviewed (49,939) fit the criteria for being closed, cleared, inactivated or suspended, and most involved reports with no leads.
We know that out of the 264,000 incident reports, 4,017 of them involved adult sex crimes. About two weeks ago, Finner announced that all of the adult sex crimes were reviewed and investigators determined that 3,501 fit the criteria for being closed, cleared, inactivated or suspended.
As previously reported, 94 of the adult sex crime reports with DNA profiles matched with individuals in the Combined DNA Index System, otherwise known as CODIS. HPD determined that 14 of those CODIS hits matched the profiles of 14 suspects currently behind bars for separate crimes.
"It is important to note that CODIS profile matches are evidence, but not necessarily proof an individual committed a crime," Finner said in the statement posted to X.
Though some cases have been deemed closed, cleared, inactivated or suspended, Finner said the department will reopen any incident should a complainant call the police and give additional information or evidence.
Finner said he will update the public within the next two weeks on the latest in the investigation.