Houston News: High Ranking Official Suspended over Sexual Harrasment Charges

Responsible for upholding the law, a member of the Houston police chief's staff is accused of breaking it. He's now off the job and under investigation for allegedly sexually harassing a co-worker reports Houston News. Lieutenant Joe Buttitta is the one accused of sexual harassment. Chief Harold Hurtt says he has great relationship with him both professionally and personally and he stresses these are only allegations, but serious enough to lead to an investigation.

No one answered at Buttitta's Humble area home Thursday evening even though he has been spending most of his time there. The 22-year HPD veteran was at home February 28, accused of sexual harassment. In his tenure, he's worked in the department's patrol, vice, and homicide, and criminal intelligence division, but most recently, he worked for the chief.
"I really can't comment about the investigation itself," said Chief Hurtt Thursday. "I know he did a great job and very thorough and kept the office good shape."
Since 2004, Buttitta has been Chief Hurtt's chief of staff. His duties included coordinating his administrative function. His accuser also worked there, but she recently transferred out.
When we spoke with Hurtt Thursday, the chief defended his choice his office.
"One of the things I do when I select people for a special position within the organization is to look at their past, their performance, as well as their ID file and his file was clean," said Chief Hurtt.

According to HPD, Buttitta's record was impeccable. Buttitta's attorneys told us, "The internal affairs division is not complete. Therefore, we have not had a chance to review it in its entirety so make any comments on it at this time would be premature."

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