Police in Houston, Texas, admitted on Thursday that their investigation of more than 4,000 sexual assault cases submitted to them was improper.
Troy Finner announced on social media last week that he had learned his police force had dropped several investigations due to staff shortages, a situation he found unacceptable.
KPRC 2, the NBC affiliate in Houston, revealed earlier in the week that nearly 2,000 cases remain unsuspected, according to the police union.
However, this figure represents only half of the cases, 4,017 cases police have sniffed at, Chief Finner finally admitted in a press conference.
“It is a dark day. In 34 years [de carrière], I suffered a lot, we suffered a lot. I don't want to say it's a dark day, we have worse days. Well, that's another one. All services, if we are there for a long time, will have to go through different situations,” he declared in the meeting.
The situation in Houston was considered unusual by experts contacted by KPRC 2.
“This is the most disturbing thing I've heard in my entire career in law enforcement! “The failure to prosecute sexual assault cases is devastating for victims,” protested the former New York police chief.
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