HOUSTON - On November 8, 2007, the Houston Police Officers' Union informed Executive Assistant Chief Charles McClelland (senior executive of the Houston Police Department Internal Affairs Division) that we were conducting an internal review of a transaction involving the sale of union property by the HPOU treasurer and secretary.

Executive Assistant Chief McClelland informed us that the moment we had reason to believe that any criminal wrong doing or administrative violations may have occurred, we, the HPOU, would need to formalize a complaint with the Houston Police Department Internal Affairs Division.

During that same time, then-HPOU president Hans Marticiuc and newly-elected president Gary Blankinship initiated an internal audit of all union finances and assets as part of the transition process of the Office of President.

During the course of our review of vehicle transactions, and in conjunction with our self-initiated audit, we identified numerous and serious financial breaches involving former HPOU Board Secretary Ronny Martin and former HPOU Treasurer Jeff Larson. On January 23, 2008, HPOU representatives supervising the review and internal audit met with Harris County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Division Chief, Ms. Donna Goode, and District Attorney Investigator Captain Dan McAnulty in order to turn over our findings of unauthorized financial transactions and in order to file a formal complaint.

The HPOU representatives handling the matter also informed Executive Assistant Chiefs Martha Montalvo and Michael Thaler of our findings. Montalvo and Thaler immediately relieved Ronny Martin and Jeff Larson of duty from their positions in the department.

On July 17, 2008, the 183rd Criminal District State Court Grand Jury returned true-bills of indictment against former HPOU Board Secretary Ronny Martin for Misapplication of Fiduciary Property (2nd Degree Felony) and Theft by a Public Servant (1st Degree Felony) and former HPOU Board Treasurer Jeff Larson for Misapplication of Fiduciary Property (by recklessness) (2nd Degree Felony).

HPOU president Gary L. Blankinship stated, "Once we initiated our transitional audit process, we discovered a number of serious and unauthorized financial transactions involving Mr. Ronny Martin and Mr. Jeff Larson that misused and misappropriated our members' money. It gives no one in our organization any pleasure to reach this conclusion or to have referred this matter to Internal Affairs or the District Attorney’s office. That said, we have a duty as police officers and police union board members to do the right thing and be completely honest in our dealings in all matters. We are the complainants in this case and we are fully supportive of the Grand Jury's decision to indict former board members Ronny Martin and Jeff Larson. This is no doubt a difficult time for their families and it is very sad thing that officers would sacrifice both their careers and reputations to misuse their positions of trust. However, it is now time for Ronny Martin and Jeff Larson to accept responsibility for their misdeeds and to return all funds that they misappropriated from the Union while they were in a position of trust in our organization.”

Mr. Blankinship added, “In addition to conducting our internal audit and turning over our findings to HPD and the DA’s office, HPOU has taken a number of preventive steps to ensure that the members’ money will be safeguarded at all times moving forward. We will continue cooperating with HPD and the DA’s office until this case is fully adjudicated and our members’ money has been returned.”

“The leadership of the HPOU neither condones nor makes excuses for the actions of Mr. Martin and Mr. Larson. We are a transparent organization that represents hard-working police officers who expect us to not only enforce the law, but also follow it. We take that responsibility seriously and, accordingly, support the District Attorney's Office efforts to prosecute Mr. Ronny Martin and Mr. Jeff Larson," concluded Blankinship.

The Houston Police Officers' Union is the elected sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all 5,048 officers of the Houston Police Department.

For a full video response from the HPOU, go here:

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou080717_jj_copsindicted.64a0ecd4.html.

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