The Houston Police Department is working to contact thousands of sexual assault victims whose cases were suspended due to a “bad policy” that allowed officers to improperly classify investigations. This policy, implemented in 2016, led to the suspension of over 260,000 cases, including more than 4,000 reported rapes. The former interim police chief, Larry Satterwhite, acknowledged the mistakes made and promised transparency in addressing the issue.
The department released a detailed report on how the policy originated and its impact on cases, as well as the steps being taken to resolve the situation. The Special Victims Division used an “SL” code to suspend over 9,000 cases, leading to a delay in investigating crimes. The discovery of the policy’s misuse during an investigation in 2023 prompted a deep dive into its implementation.
The former police chief, Troy Finner, retired amidst an internal investigation into the suspended cases, acknowledging the failure to correct the policy’s misuse. Detective work led to the identification and arrest of suspects in some suspended cases, highlighting the importance of addressing the issue.
Houston police have launched a department-wide effort to review the suspended cases, assigning a special team to assist in reanalyzing sexual assault-related incidents. Victims are being contacted through various communication methods, with the aim of investigating and resolving the cases.
One concern raised is the potential impact on investigating nonviolent crimes due to the resources allocated to solving the suspended cases. No disciplinary action has been taken against any department employees for misusing the “SL” code, emphasizing the focus on rectifying the situation and seeking justice for victims.
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