Houston Police Union Retaliates Against Medical Examiner Who Testified Police Officer Caused Death

Police union says she's biased against officer

Houston, Texas

An investigation has been sparked by the Houston Police Officers Union, against a medical examiner who gave questionable findings in a recent trial of an off-duty officer acquitted of killing a bar patron.

Executive Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard confirmed his office is investigating the complaint against assistant medical examiner Dr. Mary Anzalone. The union says the doctor's diagnosis that veteran officer Tommy L. Harris caused the victim's death by briefly placing him in a bear hug was not supported by the evidence and was disputed by another medical expert.

Police Officers Union President Gary Blankinship said he believes Anzalone should be fired.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Dwayne Wolf stood firmly behind Anzalone's findings on Thursday, noting they were reviewed and confirmed by a dozen pathologists in the office and he co-signed the autopsy report.

"We went back and reviewed the case, looked over the police investigations and the autopsy findings," Wolf said. "I've gone through this case. There's nothing wrong with the autopsy report. There's nothing wrong with the way she determined the manner and cause of death."