Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s announcement of an independent panel to scrutinize the police department’s handling of over 261,000 cases left unresolved due to staffing shortages has shed light on the severity of the situation. Obtaining copies of sexual assault and other incident reports marked with an “SL” code by the Houston Police Department (HPD), which signifies cases suspended due to personnel shortages, ABC13 has brought forth troubling details. In one report, a 35-year-old woman alleges an intrusion into her apartment, awakening to find someone “kissing her buttocks,” as noted in an HPD report from 2018, a case that wasn’t pursued due to manpower constraints. Despite Chief Troy Finner instructing officers to cease using the “SL” code in November 2021 upon discovering its prevalence, investigations reveal its continued application over 114,200 times since. Another report outlines a 33-year-old’s complaint of being “sexually assaulted by the (suspect) who is a friend of a friend,” suggesting a potential lead for investigation, yet it too was affected by the personnel shortage code. Mayor Whitmire’s initiative to form an independent panel aims to address the alarming number of unresolved cases, especially those involving serious offenses like “Injury to a child – Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.” Furthermore, instances like a man reporting power steering failure while driving, suspecting tampering with the steering rod, only to have his case sidelined under the “lack of personnel” code, underscore the gravity of the situation.

In an unexpected turn of events, Rice secured their fourth NCAA Tournament berth by clinching an improbable victory over East Carolina with a 61-41 win in the America Athletic Conference championship game.

Led by Sussy Ngulefac’s 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with Emily Klaczek’s 14 points, the 10th-seeded Owls defied the odds by winning four consecutive games to claim the title. This feat included defeating higher-seeded opponents, with victories over the second and fourth seeds by narrow margins.

Coach Lindsay Edmonds expressed pride in her team’s resilience and heart, emphasizing their commitment to success throughout the tournament. Malia Fisher contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, while Destiny Jackson added 10 points and eight rebounds to bolster Rice’s victory.

Despite East Carolina’s efforts, including Danae McNeal’s 14 points, the defending champions were unable to overcome Rice’s dominant performance. The Owls established control early in the game, building a commanding 18-3 lead after the first quarter and maintaining their momentum throughout.

Rice’s defensive prowess limited East Carolina’s offensive opportunities, holding them to just one successful three-point shot out of eight attempts and a 29% field goal percentage overall. Additionally, Rice’s dominance on the boards, outrebounding East Carolina 43-29, further solidified their victory.

With efficient shooting from beyond the arc and a strong defensive presence, Rice secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament, capping off a remarkable tournament run marked by determination and resilience.