He's been reprimanded by HPD time and time again but remains on the force - even after failing to properly investigate a case of child sex abuse
Last spring, Houston police officer Ernest W. Walker was quietly negotiating with Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland to keep his job.
By that time, Walker had already been suspended for making inappropriate advances to a female college student while on duty and had been disciplined for showing up late 40 times. Now he was accused of one of the most serious offenses an officer can commit.Walker, 43, had been dispatched to Memorial Hermann Hospital in December 2009 to investigate the reported sexual assault of a child. He met briefly with the child's mother and told her he'd wait while a physical exam of the child was conducted. Instead, he left the hospital.
Walker did not follow up and contact the family, meet with hospital staff or file a report. He simply returned to his regular duties, according to the Houston Police Department's investigation of the officer, who joined the force in 1994.
He was disciplined for the botched investigation and remains on the force.
The Houston Chronicle has identified Walker as one of 10 officers — including one who resigned while under investigation last year - who have had the most sustained complaints against them over their careers by both citizens and HPD.
Walker has accrued 28 internal affairs complaints during his career. The most serious violation was Walker's failure to investigate the sex assault on the child.
"Once notified of a possible crime, especially one of this nature, Officer Walker was required to exercise all means possible to perform a prompt and thorough investigation and gather the necessary information in order to complete an incident report," McClelland wrote in a May 24 suspension letter. "Instead, Officer Walker returned to service without any follow-up whatsoever."
Instead of firing the officer, McClelland accepted a "last chance agreement" negotiated by the police union, which required Walker to take a 20-day suspension but afforded the officer an opportunity to "salvage" his career.
History of Disgrace
ERNEST W. WALKER
Age: 43
Years of service: 17 years
Sustained complaints: 28
Suspensions and reprimands: 14
Disciplinary highlights
May 24, 2010: 20-day suspension in lieu of firing for failing to investigate a sexual assault of a child, after leaving Memorial Hermann Hospital while the child was undergoing a sexual assault examination. Although he returned to the hospital, the victim and her mother were gone and he made no effort to contact hospital staff or the family to investigate the crime. In addition, he did not file a required incident report.
Nov. 9, 2009: One-day suspension for reporting late for work 19 times between Aug. 21, 2008, and Aug. 11, 2009.
Oct. 13, 2008: 15-day suspension for misconduct for taking a criminal justice student from Texas Southern University to his apartment during a ride-along program, leaving his beat without authorization. He was also cited for dropping the student off at her apartment instead of bringing her back to the police station.
July 23, 2008: One-day suspension for reporting late for duty 21 times between Jan. 3, 2008, and May 6, 2008.
June 22, 2005: Written reprimand for leaving his Glock handgun, two loaded magazines, a Taser with two cartridges, handcuffs, and his gunbelt in his car overnight, during which time they were stolen during a break-in.
May 9, 2005: Previous 15-day suspension reduced to nine days by hearing examiners; insubordination charge overturned, and officer reimbursed for six days of lost pay.
Aug. 11, 2004: 15-day suspension for taking another officer's flashlight without permission, and for insubordination for taking two months to complete an incident report that was due the same day it was investigated.
Jan. 29, 2004: One-day suspension for being disrespectful to three superior officers questioning him on Oct. 2, 2003, about how long he took to transport prisoners. Walker later denied he made the statement.
Sept. 4, 2002: One-day suspension for ignoring subpoena to municipal court on June 20, 2002, having previously failed to attend court on Feb. 28 and May 2, 2002.
Aug. 12, 2002: Written reprimand for ignoring subpoena to municipal court.
June 22, 2001: Written reprimand for ignoring a subpoena to municipal court.
July 12, 1998: Written reprimand for responding to a call Jan. 15, 1998, by driving against traffic on the Gulf Freeway, causing an accident between a civilian and an off-duty police officer. Completed the accident report himself instead of calling for another investigator.
June 30, 1998: Written reprimand for negligence in causing a major accident March 12, 1998, and hitting numerous fixed objects with patrol car. Total cost of damages was $11,600.
Jan. 14, 1998: Eight-day suspension for releasing a suspect he arrested for having a pipe with cocaine residue after another officer destroyed the pipe at the City Jail.
Sept. 19, 1995: Written reprimand for running a red light March 25, 1995, hitting one private vehicle and sending debris crashing into another vehicle and a pedestrian.
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