1." Whats going on with HPD? They are accused, and recorded on tape, of beating a drug suspect- and now a diplomat?
Now the mayor has some explaining to do。 Does she expect citizens to believe that HPD officers dont know where the Chinese consulate building is? This is likely the most famous consulate building in the city, with folks protesting there almost continuously。
2.IF the officers, in fact, did not know that the building was the consulate, they should be fired- what officer working that area would not know that building?
Cutting budgets at HPD and HFD- with issues like this and the female firefighter issue- the mayor has her hands full。 Hopefully, she doesnt serious think that the public will believe the story that the officers did not know that the building was the Chinese consulate!
3. 「Not only was it a serious violation to go onto the property to exercise law enforcement powers without consent (from the consulate), it was an even more egregious violation if an arrest was made,」 said Jordan Paust, professor of international law at the University of Houston。 「Each step makes it more serious。」 Foreign embassies and consulates are outside the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, according to international law。 Also, diplomats have legal immunity and cannot be detained except in cases involving a threat to human life。 And, according to Paust, the United States government could be sued or face sanctions from China as a result。