The Houston Police Officers’ Union criticized Chief Art Acevedo after he claimed Republican senators were responsible for the death of a sergeant who was killed on the job.
Acevedo blamed Sens. John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, and Mitch McConnell for the death of Sgt. Christopher Brewster, 32, after he was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic assault call. Acevedo argued that Senate Republicans could have stopped this shooting had they passed the Violence Against Women Act, which closes the so-called boyfriend loophole.
“I don’t want to see their little smug faces about how much they care about law enforcement when I’m burying a sergeant because they don’t want to piss off the [National Rifle Association],” Acevedo said Monday.
In a memo to its members, the Houston Police Officers’ Union condemned Acevedo’s remarks.
“There is a time and place for every discussion, and this was neither the time or place. We are all grieving for Chris and the focus should be on him and his family and not on the Chief’s agenda,” the union wrote. “It is very clear to anyone watching, the chief owes the entire Houston Police Department an apology for hijacking this somber moment.”
A representative for Texas Sen. John Cornyn said the delay on the Violence Against Women Act was not the fault of Republicans, saying, “Democrats in D.C. walked away from negotiations, and that’s when it fell apart.”
Cruz’s office told CNN the senator was “reviewing” the legislation, adding, “For many years, Senator Cruz has worked in law enforcement, helping lead the fight to ensure that violent criminals-and especially sexual predators who target women and children-face the very strictest punishment.”
It is not clear that the updated Violence Against Women Act would have prevented the shooting in Houston. Arturo Solis, the gunman who killed Brewster and was charged with capital murder, had a lengthy criminal record that included burglary, harassment, and assault of a family member. University of Houston Law Center professor David Kwok told the Quad City Times that under Texas law, Solis should not have been able to legally own a firearm for five years after being convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault in 2015.
Solis’s alleged crime is still under investigation by Texas authorities.
