‘Significant number’ of sexual assault cases suspended due to HPD staffing, Chief Finner says

As of this week, the Neighborhood Safety Tracker has recorded 1,771 sexual assaults in Houston over the past 12 months, indicating a 3.8% increase compared to the annual average over the last four years.

However, it remains unclear how many of these cases have been solved. This uncertainty led to a revelation by Houston Police Chief Troy Finner on Friday night, who described a situation he deemed unacceptable.

Following a recent internal review, Finner disclosed that a significant number of adult sexual assault cases had been suspended or put on hold due to what he referred to as a “lack of personnel.”

In a statement posted on X, previously known as Twitter, Finner emphasized, “Regardless of staffing challenges, this should have never happened and will not continue.” He expressed his commitment to treating all victims and their families with the utmost importance and respect.

To address the issue, Finner announced that a team of investigators had been assigned to review cases categorized as “Suspended – Lack of Personnel.” Additionally, he permanently assigned additional investigators to the Special Victims Division, which handles such cases.

Despite attempts by Eyewitness News to obtain further clarification and context from the Houston police, little additional information was provided. They were also uncertain about how long the chief had been aware of the backlog of cases.

Finner intends to discuss the matter more extensively during a news conference scheduled for next week.