The Chronicle‘s Anne Marie Kilday reports that some Houstonians are characterizing the police officer union’s criticism of Chief Harold Hurtt as a racist matter:
As the Houston Police Officers’ Union continues to question Chief Harold Hurtt’s ability to lead, Sunnyside area community and spiritual leaders came out in support of the city’s top cop Tuesday.
Community activists gathered at the home of Sandra Massie-Hines, known as “the unofficial mayor of Sunnyside” for her popular National Night Out Party, where some expressed concern that some of the friction within the Houston Police Department may stem from race. Hurtt is black.
“I do believe this is a racist matter,” said Ovide Duncantell , executive director of the Black Heritage Society. “I watched the same situation develop”, said Duncantell, of former Police Chiefs Lee Brown and Clarence Bradford, who are both black.
Some members the union “just have a little difficulty taking orders from people of color,” Duncantell said
Union chief Hans Marticiuc, who is quoted at the end of the story, asserts that criticism of the chief is entirely about his competence, not his race.
