Escalera‘s badge number was not to be found in the video but her name plate was. Her identification was later confirmed by a number of sources, including The Houston Chronicle and AOL, though the department has not officially identified her.
Following public outrage, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable‘s Office released a statement to Fox 26 Houston regarding the following regarding the fact that the incident is now under investigation:
[quote] “Our administration is aware and internal affairs has opened an investigation. We have no other comment at this time.”
It remains unclear whether Escalera has been placed on leave during the investigation or whether any formal disciplinary action is imminent.
Before she had her account deleted, Escalera supposedly posted several other videos on TikTok while in uniform. There were funny and casual ones covering everything from motherhood commentary to reflections on being a law enforcement officer.
While it is not clear if those other videos are being investigated, numerous critics have challenged the professionalism and ethics of speaking on the record in uniform, especially when they include personal or sexual references.
The public reaction in the Houston community has been swift, with residents expressing outrage overwhelmingly at what they see as a betrayal of the public‘s trust.
“It’s very unprofessional,” one Precinct 5 resident told Fox 26. “You shouldn’t be doing things like that. When you’re a professional, you carry yourself a certain way.”
Another local, Alex Fitch, echoed the sentiment:
“It makes them look unprofessional when they start posting videos like that. You can’t take them seriously… Then they wonder why people don’t respect them.”
Police forces around the nation grapple with how to handle officers’ social media lives, particularly when uniforms or badges are included in personal posts. Videos like Escalera‘s blur the line between personal life and professional conduct, raising difficult questions about how officers project themselves publicly.
While Escalera joined the Harris County Constable‘s Office in September 2021, as reported by The Chronicle, its impact on her future in the agency is yet to be seen.
Precinct 5 has thus far remained silent on commenting further, and Escalera‘s social media accounts have been erased.
