A three-decades-old partnership between the city's black ministers and the Houston Police Department has ended after pastors refused to agree to new guidelines issued by Chief Charles McClelland that prohibits them from criticizing the police or city administration. The ACLU and longtime civil rights activists blasted the prohibition against criticism by clergy who volunteer with the department. McClelland changed the organization of HPD's religious volunteers by forming a group called the Police and Clergy Alliance (PACA). Last week, an estimated 100 to 150 black ministers who are members of the Houston Ministers Against Crime turned in their HPD-issued credentials, saying they would no longer work with police, the pastor's group director confirmed. [...] if you got to obey a piece of paper saying you can't associate with people who are against the police department, you can't say nothing against the mayor or say nothing against the police chief, I quit because I'm going to be free to say what God tells me to do. [...] HPD's recently issued 12-page guidelines do not appear to make a distinction about when a clergy alliance member can speak, stating they are not to "hold a press conference/press briefing where the purpose is to condemn city administration or the Houston Police Department." The Rev. James Nash, who is secretary of the Ministers Against Crime southwest chapter, said the March 2010 beating of teen burglar Chad Holley by HPD officers is a key example of a situation where pastors have a duty to speak out against the police.
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