Houston Mayor
Annise Parker has suspended Houston Police Department Chief Charles McClelland
following an automotive-pedestrian accident he was involved in on Sept. 4.
"I am the
boss; I should take a bigger discipline," said Chief McClelland during a
news conference on Thursday afternoon. "This is why I am accepting my
suspension."
The chief also
explained during the conference that police officers do not receive citations
when they are on duty driving city vehicles because they must go through the
administrative process.
If at any time an
officer is determined to be at fault for an accident, Chief McClelland said
that incident will still be on the officer's personal driving record.
Chief McClelland
released a video of the accident to FOX 26 News and other news outlets.
During the
conference, the chief admitted he would enroll in a defensive driving course.
A man had suffered
minor injuries and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center after he had walked
in front of the car driven by Chief McClelland.
The accident took
place around 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 4 in the intersection of Clay Street and Travis
Street in downtown Houston.