A ranking Houston Fire Department arson investigator has been issued a written reprimand for answering a post on Facebook from a stranger who asked for help with fixing four traffic tickets she has received from a Houston police officer.
"You used your position within HFD to influence a Houston Police Officer to dismiss four traffic citations he issued to a private citizen. In doing so, you not only violated the rules and regulations of the Houston Fire Department but also the City of Houston's Code of Ordinance," Fire Chief Terry Garrison wrote in his reprimand.
Local 2 Investigates reported in August that Arson Investigator Alison Stein answered a stranger's request on Facebook, writing that she knew the officer who had written the tickets and would try to help the stranger. The officer promptly voided all four citations.
Despite being written up for breaking the law, no suspension was levied against Stein. She has declined to comment about her actions.
The Houston Police Department Internal Affairs Division has also completed its investigation into the officer who voided the tickets, and the department levied a one-day suspension without pay. The officer was cited for abusing his conduct and authority and also violating laws against fixing tickets.
The officer admitted to Local 2 Investigates that he voided the tickets without going through the proper channels, which require high-level HPD supervisors to sign off any time a ticket is voided.
The city's human resources department said the officer chose to burn off a vacation day without pay to serve out his suspension.
The Houston Police Department issued new rules known as general orders about social networking in response to a series of misconduct by officers exposed by Local 2 Investigates. Officers are now on notice that they can be punished for posting messages, whether on duty or on their private time, if those messages violate certain standards.
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