by Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- For years, ministers across Houston worked with police to help stop violence. But today that agreement ended because the ministers wanted to be able to speak their minds about ongoing cases. Eyewitness News spoke with the coordinator of the group Houston Ministers Against Crimes and he says it's situations like the Chad Holley case why they are no longer working with the Houston Police Department.
"This is their rule book. They took our group, the Houston Ministers Against Crime, and changed it to PACA (Police and Clergy Alliance)," said the Rev. Robert Jefferson with the Cullen Missionary Baptist Church.
Reverend Jefferson is one of dozens of ministers who are no longer working with HPD. Houston Ministers Against Crime and the police department had a partnership for more than three decades. But just recently, HPD adopted new guidelines for the Police and Clergy Alliance, also called PACA.
"In PACA, you cannot speak out against the city, nor the police department, you cannot associate yourself with people who are speaking out, and you cannot cause any kind of problem in the city as long as you're carrying a PACA badge," said Rev. Jefferson.
Wednesday's verdict in the Chad Holley case, Rev. Jefferson says, is an example as a case he would not be able to discuss under the new guidelines. But since turning in his PACA badge, he spoke openly to us about it.
"Yes, I do feel like they whooped that boy unmercifully and somebody should be punished," Rev. Jefferson said.
Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland says he has done nothing to curb anyone's First Amendment rights to speak or say what they want.
"But as a member of PACA, if you are representing PACA, obviously we don't endorse any political views, and I think that's proper," said Chief McClelland.
"It's saying shut up, muzzle it, don't say nothing or we take your badge. That's what it says," Rev. Jefferson said.
Part of the new PACA guidelines are that members can't hold a press conference or press briefing to condemn city administration or the Houston Police Department. In addition, members aren't allowed to represent anyone in any matter adverse to the city or HPD.
Other ministers with whom we spoke say no matter what they will stand up for what they believe is right no matter what.
"I'm still with the Ministers Against Crime, I'm going to be with the police department, sheriff's department wherever righteousness needs to be brought out, I'm going to do it regardless," said Pastor Morel Baker Jr. with Pure Grace Missionary Baptist Church.
So far, more than 100 ministers have turned in their badges.
Chief McClelland says as the department reevaluated that partnership they realized that many of the Houston Ministers Against Crime were no longer actively involved and that's when the department decided to make the change.
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