HPD officer charged with tampering and fabricating evidence
A veteran Houston police officer was relieved of duty Thursday, after being charged with tampering and fabricating evidence.
Julissa Guzman Diaz, 37, was arrested Thursday and is currently in the Harris County Jail. She has worked since January 2006 for the Police Department and was most recently assigned to the Clear Lake Patrol Division.
“Ms. Diaz’s be- trayal of the public trust and oath of office is inconsistent with the dedication of the men and women of the Houston Police Department and their tireless, honorable service,” said HPD Chief Art Acevedo in an e-mailed statement.
“While we cannot overstate our depth of disappointment, we take solace in the fact the investigation that led to Ms. Diaz’s arrest was conducted by men and women of the HPD, the same organization and co-workers she betrayed,” Acevedo continued.
Jodi Silva, a spokeswoman for the Houston Police Department, could not provide any further information Thursday evening on the arrest, citing an ongoing investigation.
Diaz’s arrest comes as other Houston police officers recently have been taken into custody on unrelated incidents. A police officer, who Acevedo did not identify, was arrested last month as part of a 10-day prostitution sting at a massage parlor on Westheimer. A former police officer was indicted by a grand jury last month for a shooting an unarmed neighbor after a fight between their dogs.
Acevedo said Diaz has been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of an internal affairs investigation. He urged anyone with information of her alleged misconduct to contact the police department.
Diaz is expected to appear in court on Monday.