The Houston Police Department has relieved Officer Ashley Gonzalez of duty after a viewer submitted a video to FOX 26 that allegedly shows a woman using racial slurs — including a description of using that language during an arrest.

According to FOX 26 Houston, HPD confirmed it is aware of the video and has initiated an investigation. The department has not publicly confirmed Gonzalez is the woman in the footage. FOX 26 says it is not broadcasting the full video, but describes the woman in it repeatedly using a racial slur to describe Black people. She also recounts an arrest and says she directed the same slur at the person she was taking into custody. In a final segment of the video, she says she felt at peace after being able to say it.

HPD did not specify how long the investigation is expected to take.

FOX 26 showed the video to Bishop James Dixon, president of the Houston NAACP, who said he was shocked and disturbed. Dixon said the allegations extend well beyond the words used.

"The allegations go beyond offensive language and raise deeper concerns about public safety and trust between law enforcement and the community," Dixon said. He added that this should not be treated as an isolated incident involving one officer, but as a warning sign of a broader pattern deserving closer scrutiny.

If the language in the video is confirmed to belong to Gonzalez, advocates say it raises direct questions about whether bias affected the way she carried out her duties — including in the arrest she allegedly describes in the recording.

HPD said it holds its officers to the highest standards of conduct. Gonzalez has not issued a public statement. The investigation is ongoing.