Houston Mayor Responds to HPD Beating Video

Mayor Parker Responds to Beating Video: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Houston, Texas

Mayor Annise Parker found herself in a crowd of five hundred people at a town hall meeting Tuesday night. Those people, like so many others, want answers.

"In an organization as large as the Houston Police Department there's always going to be officers who are doing things they shouldn't be doing," Parker said.

This in response to the release of a videotape depicting Houston Police Officers kicking, punching and beating a then 15-year-old Chad Holley. So how can this happen?

Mayor Parker was asked the same question by her constituents at a NAACP meeting. She walked away with a deeper understanding of the African American community and its relationship with HPD.

"The other thing I failed to realize is the depth of distrust in the community at the ability to successfully bring police officers to justice in a court of law here in Harris County," Parker said.

Mayor Parker wasn't the only city leader responding to the release of the tape. Councilman C.O. Bradford is a former HPD chief.

"We're prepared to say it was an isolated incident but those officers were very comfortable doing what they did in broad open daylight. I have a concern about that."

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