HPD fires officer over video of her going off on racist rant
In the video, former HPD Officer Ashley Gonzalez referred to an incident that occurred whereas she was off responsibility and stated she “hated Black people.”
HOUSTON — The Houston Police Department on Friday fired an officer days after a video of her going off on a racist rant made waves on social media.
“The behavior exhibited by Ashley Gonzalez was abhorrent, disgusting, and entirely unacceptable,” Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, Jr. stated. “It is deeply disturbing and has no place in law enforcement or in our community.”
In the video, Gonzalez seems to discuss with an incident that occurred whereas she was off responsibility. She stated she “hated Black people” and if she have been to answer a 911 name and a Black particular person was on the scene, she would take them to jail. She used the N-word a number of occasions and referenced slavery.
In the video, she stated she felt good about calling a Black particular person the N-word to their face.
HPD Officer Ashley Gonzalez had beforehand been relieved of responsibility, that means she was technically nonetheless an worker.
In the times following the surfacing of the video, calls grew for HPD to look into Gonzalez’s arrest historical past. Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas posted an announcement to social media on Thursday saying she wished HPD to “closely review any prior arrests, reports, and testimony tied to this officer to determine whether a pattern of racial bias impacted past cases and whether any Houstonians’ rights were violated.”
According to army officers, Gonzalez served within the Marines from March 2019 by March 2023 and reached the rank of Corporal, E4.
HPD issued this assertion on Friday afternoon: “The Houston Police Department (HPD) has terminated the employment of Ashley Gonzalez. As of in the present day, she is now not an worker of the division. HPD holds each officer to the very best requirements of integrity and conduct, and won’t waver in upholding these expectations.
“After discovering the incident, Ashley Gonzalez was immediately relieved of duty. In compliance with state civil service laws, an investigation was conducted as quickly as legally possible.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued this assertion concerning Gonzalez’s termination: “The feedback within the video recorded by former Houston Police Officer Ashley Gonzalez are outrageous and reprehensible. I used to be shocked and deeply dissatisfied to listen to a Houston police officer use such foul and offensive language.
“Her actions don’t mirror the values of our metropolis or the Houston Police Department, nor the requirements we count on from these sworn to serve and shield our neighborhood.
“Let me be clear: this habits is unacceptable. I applaud HPD Chief Diaz for suspending Gonzalez when the division grew to become conscious of the video and firing her as quickly because the state civil service course of allowed.
“Let this incident function a warning to all City of Houston workers. There is zero tolerance for racism in my administration, and if you happen to see it, report it instantly.
“I ask all Houstonians to rededicate ourselves to human rights and respect for others.”
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