The Houston Police Department announced Wednesday that it put one of its officers on administrative leave after learning he participated in the Capitol rally last week and “penetrated” the Capitol building.
Sources tell Fox26 that officer is 18-year veteran Tam Dinh Pham.
“There is a member of the Houston Police Department, that has been determined, that on his own time to have not only attended a rally, which is their First Amendment right, but this individual has been determined to actually have been penetrated the Capitol,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said.
Avecedo said he is “highly confident” the officer will face federal charges.
HPD’s Union tells Click2Houston Pham is expected to resign today. The chief said he gave Pham 48 hours to meet with him.
“Let’s see if he shows up,” Acevedo said, according to Click2Houston. “There is no excuse (for this), especially from a police officer.
“I can’t tell you the anger I feel at the thought of a police officer and other police officers thinking they get to go storm the Capitol or members of the military or the Secret Service.”
Acevado said he received a photo of one of his officers with a Trump flag via email Sunday. He said he went to that officer’s Facebook page and confirmed it was him.
Pham confirmed to the Houston Chronicle it was him.
“I shouldn’t have done it,” Pham told the Houston Chronicle. “I was there to take pictures.”
He went on to say he “wasn’t in the right of mind.” Pham has no previous disciplinary record against him.
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