Lucio Vasquez/Houston Public Media
Pictured is a Houston Police Department patrol vehicle.
The Houston Police Department is facing pressure to fire an officer accused of making several racist comments about Black people in a video shared widely on social media.
Houston City Council member Edward Pollard and Houston-area civil rights advocate Candice Matthews have both called for the officer to be fired. The Houston Police Officers’ Union has also denounced the comments made in the video.
An HPD spokesperson told Houston Public Media that officer Ashley Gonzalez, who is accused of making the racist remarks in the video, has been suspended with pay and that the incident in under investigation.
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The woman in the video makes repeated derogatory comments about Black people while repeatedly using racial slurs, including “chimps.”
According to HPD’s general order on conduct and authority, officers “shall not engage in any form of speech likely to be construed as a racial or religious slur or joke.” The general order also states that “officers shall adhere to this policy, whether they are on or off duty, unless doing so would compromise the safety of an employee or citizen.”
Matthews, a civil rights activist, said earlier this week she was glad the department had removed Gonzalez from duty but that more needed to be done.
“There is absolutely no place in law enforcement for individuals who harbor hatred toward the very communities they are sworn to protect,” Matthews said in a social media post. “A badge is not a shield for racism. It is a responsibility — and when that responsibility is violated, consequences must follow.”
In a social media post on Tuesday, Houston Police Officers’ Union President Douglas Griffith called the comments made in the video disturbing.
“In no way does the HPOU or its leadership condone or tolerate racist behavior from any of our officers,” Griffith said. “The Houston Police Department prides itself as being the most diverse police department in the nation. … It is our belief that the department is diligently working to confirm the authenticity of this video and will take appropriate measures.”
Several hours after HPOU denounced the video, Pollard said the officer needs to be fired.
“I support our department, but incidents like this make it significantly more difficult to build and maintain trust with the people they serve,” Pollard said in a social media post. “This type of conduct is unacceptable and cannot be overlooked or tolerated. I am calling for her immediate termination. Efforts should be made to ensure she will never be allowed to serve in any law enforcement capacity moving forward.”
In separate online statements, both the Afro American Police Officers League (AAPOL) and the Houston NAACP chapter called the comments made in the video unacceptable.
“As an employee group that primarily represents African American officers, we are troubled by the remarks made in the video that recently surfaced depicting an officer, who has since been relieved of duty, spewing hatred, racism, and dehumanizing Black people by referring to them as ‘chimps,'” AAPOL president Sherell Wood said in a statement.
“This mentality should never wear a badge and carry a gun in our society,” NAACP Houston Branch President Bishop James Dixon said in a statement shared by Houston Council member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz. “Each day a racist officer wears a badge and carries a gun, innocent civilians are endangered.”
Gonzalez could not be reached for comment.