J. Noe Diaz has been appointed Chief of Police for Houston, marking a new beginning for the department following a major scandal and the resignation of former Chief Troy Finner.
Houston, Texas, August 2024—The Houston Police Department has entered a new phase of its history with the appointment of J. Noe Diaz as Chief of Police for the greater Houston area. When Mayor John Whitmire announced Diaz's appointment, he referred to it as a much-needed new beginning for the agency.
Chief Diaz held a news conference on Friday, during which he presented his vision for the department. He emphasized the importance of increasing the number of staff members and improving recruitment efforts.
Douglas Griffith, a member of the Houston Police Officer's Union, expressed his optimism about Diaz's leadership: "It's going to be a new chapter in our department, and we're excited to go with it."
In his new position, Diaz offers a lot of expertise, including 23 years of experience in law enforcement and 11 years of experience working as a Texas Ranger. In addition, he has worked as a patrol officer for the Department of Public Safety, a deputy in Precinct 5, and a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His most recent position was as the police chief in Katy, where he oversaw a minor department before moving on to Houston, where he is now an officer in charge of a much larger force that includes over 5,000 officers.
"Based on his experience, collaboration, and commitment to the job," Mayor Whitmire stated, highlighting his faith in Diaz's ability. "This gentleman is the best crime fighter based on his experience," he said.
Following the departure of former Police Chief Troy Finner, who resigned amid scrutiny for the handling of more than 260,000 suspended cases, including more than 4,000 complaints of sexual assault, Diaz has taken over as the new Chief of Police. Mayor Whitmire made it clear that Finner's departure was not a result of coercion but rather a step essential to resolve existing problems and restore confidence in the department.
Chief Diaz acknowledged the obstacles, stating, "No one here is going to put anything on the table." It is going to be ours to possess. We will take measures to ensure that it does not occur again, which may necessitate a change in the employment structure. His nomination comes at a crucial time for the agency, which is currently tasked with reestablishing public trust and regaining the general public's confidence.
Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite, acting in the interim post, will be removed from his current position and transferred to the city's Homeland Security Department.
Over the course of the transition to new leadership at the department, the primary focus will be on resolving concerns that have occurred in the past while simultaneously moving forward with a reinvigorated dedication to providing effective law enforcement and community service.
The announcement of Diaz as the new Chief of Police is significant for the Houston Police Department. A recent scandal has severely damaged the department's reputation.
A few days prior, acting Chief Larry Satterwhite gave a thorough report to the Houston City Council about a concerning practice involving questionable coding that led to suspending over 260,000 cases. Because of this scandal, many cases were mismanaged and thrown out, eventually leading to the resignation of former Chief Finner.
The timing of Diaz's hiring shows how badly the department needs new leadership to deal with the fallout from the scandal and win back the public's trust.
Chief Diaz is officially scheduled to start his position on August 14, provided that the municipal council gives him approval.
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