Houston Mayor John Whitmire may not go very far in searching for Troy Finner's replacement as HPD Chief. The search may stop in Katy.
Our TV partner, Channel Two, reports that Whitmire has had concrete conversations with Katy Police Chief Noe Diaz, and Diaz, a former Texas Ranger, is being targeted by Whitmire to become the top man at HPD.
“Picking a guy from the DPS, from the Texas Rangers, with that degree of integrity and professionalism can’t hurt. I believe HPD will benefit from this selection,” said former Houston Council Member Mike Knox.
As a former member of HPD, Knox is uniquely qualified to not only understand the internal operations at HPD but also what it takes to manage the elected personnel that make up city hall.
“Do I think he can manage it? By all indications he can. He’s just going to have to get used to a different set of politics, a different set of community, a different set of things that he’s going to have to do, but he’s a smart guy I think he’ll be just fine,” said Knox on Monday.
Finner retired back in May after the suspended cases scandal was exposed. He recently claimed that he was forced out to bury the whole thing. Mayor Whitmire has denied that.
Larry Satterwhite has been the Acting Chief since Finner left.
More from Channel Two below.