The video, originally posted to an Instagram “Close Friends” story and screen-recorded by a viewer, shows Gonzalez launching into a hate-filled tirade against Black people. In the shocking clip, she repeatedly uses the N-word and other severe racial slurs, stating that she “hated Black people” and referencing slavery.
The Houston Police Department on Friday fired an officer days after a video of her going off on a racist rant made waves on social media.
“The behavior exhibited by Ashley Gonzalez was abhorrent, disgusting, and entirely unacceptable,” Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, Jr. said. “It is deeply disturbing and has no place in law enforcement or in our community.”
In the video, Gonzalez appears to refer to an incident that occurred while she was off duty. She said she “hated Black people” and if she were to respond to a 911 call and a Black person was at the scene, she would take them to jail. She used the N-word several times and referenced slavery.
In the video, she said she felt good about calling a Black person the N-word to their face.
HPD Officer Ashley Gonzalez had previously been relieved of duty, meaning she was technically still an employee.
In the days following the surfacing of the video, calls grew for HPD to look into Gonzalez’s arrest history. Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas posted a statement to social media on Thursday saying she wanted HPD to “closely review any prior arrests, reports, and testimony tied to this officer to determine whether a pattern of racial bias impacted past cases and whether any Houstonians’ rights were violated.”
According to military officials, Gonzalez served in the Marines from March 2019 through March 2023 and reached the rank of Corporal, E4.
HPD issued this statement on Friday afternoon: “The Houston Police Department (HPD) has terminated the employment of Ashley Gonzalez. As of today, she is no longer an employee of the department. HPD holds every officer to the highest standards of integrity and conduct, and will not waver in upholding these expectations.
“After discovering the incident, Ashley Gonzalez was immediately relieved of duty. In compliance with state civil service laws, an investigation was conducted as fast as legally possible.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued this statement regarding Gonzalez’s termination: “The comments in the video recorded by former Houston Police Officer Ashley Gonzalez are outrageous and reprehensible. I was shocked and deeply disappointed to hear a Houston police officer use such foul and offensive language.
“Her actions do not reflect the values of our city or the Houston Police Department, nor the standards we expect from those sworn to serve and protect our community.
“Let me be clear: this behavior is unacceptable. I applaud HPD Chief Diaz for suspending Gonzalez when the department became aware of the video and firing her as soon as the state civil service process allowed.
“Let this incident serve as a warning to all City of Houston employees. There is zero tolerance for racism in my administration, and if you see it, report it immediately.
“I ask all Houstonians to rededicate ourselves to human rights and respect for others.”
Gonzalez, a former U.S. Marine who joined HPD in 2024, has permanently lost her badge over the viral video.