Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images
Hours after his sudden retirement as Houston’s police chief, Troy Finner said his career with the police department was rewarding, despite challenges along the way.
“Thirty four years ago, I decided to become a Houston police officer and serve my city,” Finner said in a statement posted to X Wednesday. “It has been one of the best choices I’ve made in my life. Every day, even the most challenging ones, has been rewarding.”
The announcement of his retirement came in the form of an email to city employees late Tuesday night from Mayor John Whitmire, who later said he felt sick learning of the chief’s retirement.
It happened just days after Finner announced the police department wrapped up an investigation into more than 264,000 incident reports that were suspended using an internal “lack of personnel” code— and just hours after news reports that he knew of the code as far back as 2018. Finner has publicly claimed he first learned of the code during a meeting in late 2021.
RELATED: Houston Police Chief Troy Finner retired amid suspended cases dispute, mayor says
“The last few months of my career were, perhaps, the most challenging yet most rewarding,” Finner said in the statement Wednesday.
“It was painful because some victims of violent crime did not receive the quality of care and service they deserved,” he said. “But, it was also beneficial because we implemented measures to ensure this never happens again. Our department and our profession will be better because of it.”
During a press conference Wednesday, Whitmire said the 2018 email at the center of recent local media reports was the “final straw” in Finner’s decision to retire.
Effective minutes after the Tuesday night email was distributed to city employees, Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite stepped in to serve as the acting police chief of the state’s most populous city.
“I am honored to be in this role right now, however it occurred because I am so proud of the men and women that I get to work with everyday and it is them that keep us going and I appreciate that,” Satterwhite said Wednesday.
As the department’s executive assistant chief, Satterwhite was charged with leading, organizing and implementing management strategies. He was called on to act as a liaison with city officials when designated by the chief, according to a police department command overview document.
