Mayor Turner’s full statement during the Houston Police Department news conference after body camera video is released in the shooting death of Nicolas Chavez.
Mayor Sylvester Turner stood with Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo at a news conference Thursday to discuss the release of body camera video in the shooting death of Nicolas Chavez and the firing of four Houston Police Officers.
The mayor’s full statement is available in the video included in this news release. The following quotes are excerpts from his statement.
“What happened the night of April 12 has dramatically affected many people and this City. Nicolas Chavez’ life was taken, and his family must live with their personal loss and anguish for the rest of their lives.”
“Today is a difficult day for all of us, especially the Nicolas Chavez family, HPD, the four police officers and their families and our city.”
“The video is difficult to watch without questioning why the shooting happened and wishing the encounter could have ended differently and knowing that it should have had a different outcome.”
“No one should conclude that the dismissal of these officers is an indictment on HPD, of the 5,300 police officers. But when you are wrong, there are consequences. And for the good of every police officer who serves, for the good of everyone that followed the rules, that protect this city, it is important for us to call a ball a ball, and a strike, a strike.
“And police officers, when they do their job, I will stand by you. But when you fire, like in this case at the end, when there was no imminent threat, then accountability must take place in order for our city to move forward. And that’s what’s happening here today. It’s not an easy matter, and it’s difficult for all of us. But you can’t bring back Mr. Chavez, and you can’t fill the hole in this family’s life. But we can move forward, in spite of our pain, to work together, to heal our city. And that’s what we’re doing here today.”