In a shocking revelation, it has been discovered that over 1,100 rape kits were never properly investigated by the Houston Police Department (HPD). This unsettling news was initially brought to light by ABC13, prompting further investigation into the department’s suspended cases. During a recent press conference, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner provided an update on the ongoing review of these cases.
Out of the 264,000 suspended cases, a staggering 81,650 have already been reviewed. This means that someone has taken the time to read the reports and attempt to contact the victims involved. However, it was also revealed that 26,000 cases were correctly suspended, but an incorrect code was used. This highlights the importance of accurate documentation and coding in police investigations.
One particularly alarming discovery was that a homicide case had been suspended and initially coded as a failure to stop and render aid case. Such oversights raise serious concerns about the thoroughness of the department’s handling of these cases.
Regarding sexual assault cases specifically, out of the 4,107 reported incidents, 3,948 have been reviewed. Unfortunately, the majority of these cases (3,079) have been classified as inactivated with no workable leads. This means that the investigation has reached a dead end, leaving many victims without justice.
Chief Finner acknowledged the mixed nature of the findings, stating that there may be both good news and bad news as they continue to work through each incident report. He emphasized his commitment to fully addressing each case, regardless of the outcome.
ABC13 has been digging deeper into the origins of the “suspended due to lack of personnel” code and its purpose. A letter from a sergeant to then-Executive Chief Matt Slinkard in July 2021 shed some light on the matter. It revealed that the code was created in 2016 to track the number of cases with workable leads that couldn’t be assigned due to staffing shortages. However, concerns were raised about the public perception and optics of using such a code.
The Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, expressed his dissatisfaction with the code’s creation, calling it a misguided decision. He emphasized the importance of sounding the alarm and addressing personnel shortages head-on, rather than resorting to misleading codes.
Interestingly, Chief Finner claimed that he was unaware of the code until November 2021 and immediately ordered his staff to cease its usage. This raises questions about the communication and transparency within the department.
Over the years, a total of 1,147 rape kits were collected by officials, tested, and uploaded to a national DNA database. Shockingly, dozens of matches were already found in the system, indicating missed opportunities for justice. In addition to these kits, an additional 5,058 reports were sent for testing by the forensics team.
Sonia Corrales, the deputy CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center, stressed the need to hold accountable the systems that failed these survivors. She highlighted that it is the responsibility of the police department to fully investigate each case and gather all necessary evidence.
To prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, a new system called the Sexual Assault Response Team will be implemented next year. Comprised of police personnel, community members, and victim advocates, this team aims to ensure prompt and thorough action in sexual assault cases. Additionally, starting in 2025, they will review Harris County sexual assault cases to prevent any further mishandling.
As the investigation into the suspension of 260,000 HPD cases continues, it has come to light that city council members had raised concerns about this issue a decade ago. This raises questions about why action wasn’t taken sooner to rectify the situation.
This ongoing review of suspended cases has revealed a disturbing lack of thoroughness and attention to detail within the Houston Police Department. It is crucial that accountability is prioritized and necessary reforms are implemented to prevent such failures in the future. The victims of these crimes deserve justice, and it is the duty of law enforcement agencies to ensure their cases are fully investigated and no stone is left unturned.
