Two employees, including a veteran sergeant, were relieved of duty pending findings; no criminal charges have been filed.
HOUSTON, Texas — Houston police placed two officers on relieved-of-duty status this week while Internal Affairs investigates an allegation that a tracking device not issued by the department was planted on a suspect’s car without a warrant, according to people familiar with the case.
The investigation centers on a short video recorded by the person under investigation that appears to show someone attaching a small tracker to the underside of a vehicle. The department confirmed that two employees were pulled from field assignments and stripped of badges and access while investigators collect statements and documents. The officers’ names have not been released. One is an 18-year HPD sergeant assigned to the Major Offenders Division. The other is a nine-year officer assigned to the Gang Division. Both remain on paid status. Officials have not said whether they will seek an outside review in addition to the administrative investigation.
Sources said the device was bought online and did not come through HPD’s equipment channels, a detail that triggered immediate policy concerns. Defense attorney Joe Vinas, a former leader of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, said officers typically obtain a judge’s order before installing a tracker on a private vehicle. “The Fourth Amendment tells us we have an expectation of privacy,” Vinas said, noting that a warrant is standard so a neutral magistrate can review probable cause. In practice, investigators also document the serial number of any device, log its issuance, and note when it is deployed and retrieved, according to people familiar with HPD procedures.
Texas law generally prohibits installing an electronic or mechanical tracking device on a vehicle without the owner’s consent. There is an exception for peace officers if the installation occurs in the course of a criminal investigation, but constitutional rules still apply. Legal specialists say evidence obtained without a warrant can be suppressed even if a state statute contains an exception. The open questions for HPD include who acquired the device, whether any supervisor approved its use, what investigative purpose was cited, and how location data may have been handled or stored. The department has not released the video or said whether it has been forensically analyzed.
The case comes as small, inexpensive trackers have become widely available to the public, complicating criminal and civil disputes across Texas. Prosecutors have charged people in recent months for placing trackers on spouses’ or ex-partners’ vehicles, while courts consider stalking and harassment statutes alongside the tracking law. Police agencies, meanwhile, face added scrutiny over surveillance technology and documentation after other controversies involving search practices. In that climate, HPD leaders have emphasized tighter auditing of specialized tools, according to people briefed on departmental changes.
Internal Affairs investigators are expected to interview the officers involved and supervisors in the Major Offenders and Gang divisions, obtain purchase and usage records for the device, and compare case notes with any judicial paperwork. If the review identifies a potential criminal violation, the matter could be forwarded for prosecutorial assessment under the statute governing unlawful installation of tracking devices, a Class A misdemeanor. As of Sunday, no referral or charging decision had been announced, and the suspect whose car was involved had not been named by authorities. The department did not provide a timeline for public release of findings.
Outside the station, defense lawyers and civil liberties advocates said the outcome could shape how often trackers are used and how requests for warrants are documented. Some former investigators said they expect divisions to reissue reminders on logging specialized equipment, chain-of-custody rules, and supervisory signoffs. Others predicted new training on distinguishing between department-issued devices and any outside equipment, particularly in units that handle covert operations. For now, the two employees remain off the street while the review continues.
As of late Sunday, HPD said its Internal Affairs Division is continuing interviews and document checks related to the alleged use of a nonissued tracker. The officers remain relieved of duty with pay, and the department has not scheduled a public briefing. Further updates are expected once investigators complete initial interviews and evidence reviews.
Author note: Last updated November 23, 2025.