An under-fire Houston police officer was fired Friday over her now-viral racist social media rant — as officers described her hateful outburst as “deeply disturbing.”
Officer Ashley Gonzalez was formally terminated after she had been underneath investigation for the video she shared on Instagram, the place she spewed 25 racial slurs in a 2-minute-long tirade in opposition to “black folks” from inside her automobile.
“The Houston Police Division has terminated the employment of Ashley Gonzalez,” officers introduced on X Friday. “As of at present, she is not an worker of the division. “HPD holds each officer to the best requirements of integrity and conduct, and won’t waver in upholding these expectations.”
Gonzalez, who joined the pressure in January 2024, proclaimed she “hates black folks” and threatened to arrest any “black particular person” in the event that they have been at a name she was dispatched to, in keeping with the clip shared by Grizzy’s Hood Information.
“The quantity of occasions I’ll at all times and without end say that I f–king hate (censored). I f–king hate you all,” Gonzalez allegedly says within the clip.
Gonzalez was ordered handy in her badge and gun, however remained employed whereas the police division investigated the authenticity of the video.
“After discovering the incident, Ashley Gonzalez was instantly relieved of obligation. In compliance with state civil service legal guidelines, an investigation was carried out as quick as legally potential,” officers added.
“The habits exhibited by Ashley Gonzalez was abhorrent, disgusting, and completely unacceptable,” Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, Jr. mentioned. “It’s deeply disturbing and has no place in legislation enforcement or in our group.”
Gonzalez is legally allowed to enchantment her firing, however Houston Police brass are assured their case might be upheld in court docket.
“I can’t consider legally of an arbitrator or civil service who would overturn this termination primarily based on what we’ve seen,” retired HPD Captain Dr. Greg Fremin informed KHOU.
Gonzalez served within the US Marine Corps between 2019 and 2023, attaining the rank of corporal, E3.
Regardless of her termination, she is going to nonetheless maintain a Texas Peace Officer certification, which may enable her to pursue alternatives as an officer for an additional division.
“With out a legal conviction or one thing of that kind of nature, she’ll nonetheless have a state certification,” Fremin mentioned. “However I believe that there might be an enormous outcry to sure political entities inside Austin to have a look at this very intently, as a result of, is there a chance she could be employed by one other company? Completely. There might be. What company would do this? I don’t know.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire praised the division’s dealing with of Gonzalez’s firing, saying her habits doesn’t belong within the metropolis.
“Her actions don’t mirror the values of our metropolis or the Houston Police Division, nor the requirements we anticipate from these sworn to serve and shield our group,” Whitmire mentioned.
“Let me be clear: this habits is unacceptable. I applaud HPD Chief Diaz for suspending Gonzalez when the division grew to become conscious of the video and firing her as quickly because the state civil service course of allowed,” he mentioned.
“Let this incident function a warning to all Metropolis of Houston workers. There may be zero tolerance for racism in my administration, and when you see it, report it instantly,” the mayor added. “I ask all Houstonians to rededicate ourselves to human rights and respect for others.”
