HOUSTON — News of Houston police Chief Troy Finner's abrupt retirement came as a surprise to some while for others, they believe it was political.
"First thing I thought was the new mayor wanted a new police chief," said Houston resident Reginald Joiner.
"It felt like very much part of being a part of this political scene," said Sharon Evans-Brooks who lives in Houston's Third Ward.
While the circumstances surrounding his departure were sorted out, many reflected on the legacy he left behind.
"Say what anyone will about Chief Finner, he and his commanders did an amazing job in creating relationships with communities so that we could be partners in doing what’s most important," said Evans-Brooks.
Less than a month ago, Evans-Brooks took to the streets with Finner to get a firsthand look at the so-called hotspots plaguing the neighborhood.
"Our hope and desire is that the incoming administration continues with a strong community engagement component," said Evans-Brooks.
From the Third Ward to Asia Town, Finner's commitment to community policing is what those who call Houston home say they want to see in the city's next public safety leader.
"You don’t want nobody that really don’t know making all the decisions for something they don’t know nothing about," said Joiner.
"We would encourage them to not overlook the voices of community organizations and activists and community members because we are a great resource and partners in help keeping communities safe and mitigate things that could potentially be exacerbated," said Evans-Brooks.
There's no word on who will replace Finner just yet, but residents said they hope it's someone with local ties to the area who understands the needs of the communities they will serve.
Larry Satterwhite, who was previously serving the department as the executive assistant chief, will be acting police chief until a new chief is selected.