HISD Statement Regarding Police Officer Arrest

Houston Independent School District Police Chief Jimmy Dotson issued the following statement today regarding Tuesday’s arrest of Officer Richard M. Cano on a federal extortion charge.  Because this is a pending case, HISD will have no further comment.

“The HISD Police Department fully cooperated with the investigation that led to Tuesday’s arrest of Officer Richard M. Cano on a federal extortion charge.  The officer has not been convicted of a crime. If proven true, the allegations in this case constitute a breach of the public trust that we take seriously. While we condemn this sort of alleged activity, the actions of one police officer in no way reflect on the character and professionalism of the 200 law enforcement officers in the HISD police department.  Each day, these officers dutifully and honorably protect the 200,000 students, 30,000 employees, and countless parents and community members involved on a daily basis in this district’s 279 schools.  I want to thank the FBI, Texas Rangers, the Houston Police Department, the HISD Police Internal Affairs Division, and other agencies that worked on this case.  We will use this case as an opportunity to ensure that we have strong policies and procedures in place to protect the public.”