Houston mayor outlines duties of independent committee investigating suspended HPD cases, highlights ‘accountability’

HOUSTON – A few weeks ago, KPRC 2 Investigates reported that Mayor John Whitmire appointed a private committee to investigate the thousands of suspended sexual assault cases by the Houston Police Department.

HPD faced severe criticism following the revelation that around 264,000 criminal reports have been suspended across various HPD divisions over the past eight years due to manpower shortages.

• TIMELINE: Houston Police Department’s mishandling of sexual assault cases

In a letter to City Council members Wednesday, Whitmire announced exactly what the committee members included: Ellen Cohen, Captain Jeff Owles, Christina Nowak, Arturo Michel, and Rev. Leon Preston.

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