In a bid to uphold transparency and maintain public trust, Mayor John Whitmire has declared the appointment of an independent panel tasked with reviewing the Houston Police Department’s (HPD) management of suspended cases. This decision comes amidst growing concerns over the handling of 264,000 incident reports that were suspended within the department.

“I trust and believe Police Chief Troy Finner is doing the best he can to manage the internal investigation, get to the bottom of it, and hold people accountable,” stated Mayor Whitmire during the announcement. “The independent panel will consist of individuals I also trust to review and validate the outcome, thereby aiding in bringing closure to the victims.”

The Mayor pledged to release the names of those who have agreed to serve on the independent review panel in the forthcoming days. Chief Finner affirmed that HPD is actively sorting through the extensive backlog of suspended cases, attributed to an internal HPD code citing a lack of personnel. Additional investigators have been assigned to thoroughly review the reports and reach out to the victims involved.

“I am deeply concerned about how and why this happened. The public wants answers and accountability. This process of appointing an independent panel will validate the investigation’s integrity,” remarked Mayor Whitmire, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability within law enforcement.

The move reflects the city’s commitment to address concerns raised by the community and restore confidence in the Houston Police Department’s operations. As the investigation progresses, both city officials and the public await further developments to ensure justice and accountability prevail.

Significant developments are underway to address the ongoing water bill issues plaguing residents of Houston.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire, who was recently elected, discussed his plans to alleviate the burden on residents facing unexplained and excessively high water bills.

Whitmore acknowledged the concerns voiced by two Houstonians during the council meeting and emphasized his determination to find a solution. “We will get there even if I have to replace the entire Public Works,” Whitmire responded.

While originally planning to unveil his high water bill relief plan this week, Whitmire decided to delay its announcement. He expressed dissatisfaction with the plan presented by Houston Public Works, citing gaps and stating that it is not up to standard. “I did not like the plan that was presented to me yesterday because it had some gaps. It is still not where it needs to be,” Whitmire remarked.

Despite not disclosing the full details of the plan, Whitmire revealed some aspects that water customers can anticipate. He mentioned that there are approximately 100,000 broken remote read water sensors throughout the city, leading to inaccurate billing. The goal is to replace these sensors within the next nine months, significantly earlier than the previously planned five-year timeframe.

“Our goal is fair and truthful billing,” Whitmire emphasized, adding that customers who receive high water bills should calculate their correct billing cost by averaging their three lowest water bills from 2023.

In December, former Mayor Sylvester Turner implemented changes to several ordinances related to water bills, including allowing customers to apply for a maximum of two leak adjustments per year and providing 50% credit on excess water usage on both water and wastewater charges.

Houston Public Works has applied $6.3 million in credits to water bills in dispute since the implementation of these ordinance changes in December 2023. The department continues to collaborate with Mayor Whitmire on his plan to ensure reliable water bills for residents.

As the city works towards resolving the water bill issues, updates will be provided as soon as they become available.