The cousin wished the authorities had continued prosecuting the case.

“We feel like they should have continued to try,” she said. “Someone like (Thompson) is supposed to protect and serve us should not have helped her husband.”

The press conference was led by FIEL executive director Cesar Espinosa, who has acted as a spokesman to the family since the 2017 killing. To the supporters of the Hernandez family, he asked that they respect the decision.

“Its a hard pill to swallow but I ASK that we center on what the family wants which is to close this dark chapter in their lives,” Espinosa wrote. “At the end Justice is subjective. The Hernandez Family will NEVER have true justice because this should have never (happened) to begin with. John should still be here… in the end whether on heaven or earth may there be.”

And to members of law enforcement, Espinosa and Hernandez’s family demanded that Thompson never work as a police officer again.

An appeal Thompson filed to get her job back is pending a review by the Civil Service Commission, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement addressing the dismissal.

Cagle offered no insight into whether Thompson would like to return to law enforcement.

“She was a good police officer and she had no issues at the sheriff’s office,” Cagle said. “She was well liked. If she wants to go back (to policing), that’s something she should be able to do.”