HPD officers at center of traffic tickets investigation leave police force

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Three Houston police officers have resigned or retired to avoid being fired in a traffic violations tickets scandal.

Police spokesman Victor Senties tells Eyewitness News that Gregory Rosa and John R. Garcia resigned and Robert Manzanales retired.

Senties says Chief Charles McClelland had called a meeting to "terminate" the three and all instead opted to quit or retire.

Rosa, Garcia, Manzanales and Rudolph Farias III were relieved of duty in August. Internal affairs investigators looked at whether they falsely claimed to be present during traffic violations that resulted in citations. Authorities say hundreds of tickets could have to be dismissed.

Farias later committed suicide.

Union leaders have said the officers are innocent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report