We want to let the people know what kind of person he was and what he meant to my family,' Molina said. The two officers convicted in the Torres' case are expected to be sentenced within a few days. Two observers watch as Margaret Torres throws a wreath into Buffalo Bayou in memory of her son, Joe Campos Torres. CBS Evening News for Wednesday, Feb 08, 1978 You were a victim [of a crime], so Im going to treat you as a victim. At least 22 persons were arrested at a city park after violence broke out in the chiefly Mexican-American neighborhood following a disturbance which led to vandalism and bottle throwing among the estimated mob of 1,500 persons. As we said at the time: what difference is it going to make to have the cops speaking Spanish when they brutalize and murder someone? he asks on the podcast. For many of the victims they interviewed, the officers presence did make a difference. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Two former Houston policemen on trial for beating and drowning a Mexican-American prisoner in their custody last May were convicted by a jury today of misdemeanor charges that will cost each no more than a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Torres subsequently drowned. The city was quickly growing into the murder capital of the United States as a slew of unsolved killings in Houstons barrios piled up. 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The other count, a misdemeanor violation of Mr. Torres's rights by intimidation, carries a maximum punishment of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. At the time, the department was enmeshed in a series of police brutality scandals covered by Texas Monthly in an article titled, " New Gang In Town: What Happens When Cops Run Wild?". Become a member to support the independent voice of Houston Three days later, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 1977 his dead body was found severely beaten and floating in the Buffalo Bayou, a creek on the outskirts of downtown Houston. 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On April 3, a plaza, a monument, a huge portrait, and a walking trail were all unveiled and dedicated to remembering a man brutally murdered by Houston police almost 45 years ago. And though her mother instilled in her a love for the U.S., Alonzo was also aware that her identity as a Mexican American sometimes made her a target. Past charges of brutality against Houston Police Department noted. Torres's body was found two days later. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. Burning car flipped during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. When police attempted to make an arrest at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Moody Park, attendees began throwing rocks and overturning police cars. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Officer Terry Denson came up with the idea: "Let's see if the wetback can swim," he said. The Government appealed, arguing that probation was not permissible in cases where the possible penalty was life in prison, as it is in Federal civil rights cases in which the victim has died. . Reuben Bonilla of Corpus Christi, who heads the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Texas, called the verdict "the most deplorable and unconscionable in recent memory," and said he fears Hispanic-American violence unless the Justic Department acts promptly to bring a federal case against the officers. In the case of [Torres], theres racism, theres extreme brutality.. On May 5, 1977, Campos Torres, was arrested at a bar for disorderly conduct. Articles about the drowning of Joe Campos Torres appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 15, 1977. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. Anyone can read what you share. HPD offers a rewarding career, exceptional benefits and a competitive salary. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. The victim, Joe Campos Torres, 23, allegedly was dumped off the 25-foot retaining wall into the bayou last Friday. They're dead, Michael C. Ramsey, one of the defense lawyers, said of the Justice Department's appeal effort, which he termed frivolous. Mr. Ramsey said he considered today's sentences a victory for the additional reason that the three defendants would no longer have to face the five years probation originally imposed by the Judge. The arresting officers took him to a place dubbed 'the hole,' an area behind a warehouse along the Buffalo Bayou, and beat him before taking Torres to the city jail. In their barrios, things werent much better. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. A lot has changed since 1979 at HPD, but community policing is really important, Moravec says. Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. However, Houston's police chief issued a statement saying that "the processes of justice have prevailed over demagoguery.". The former policemen had been on trial in connection with the drowning death of her son. Nonetheless, Garcia said he is distressed by incidents, including the recent shooting deaths of a black police erroneously believed to be an armed robber and of a 16-year-old unarmed Mexican-American burglary suspect. According to sworn testimony, the officers then spreadeagled the prisoner against a patrol car, and Mr. Denson, after some discussion of what to do with the prisoner, said, Let's see if this wetback can swim. The prosecutors contended that Mr. Denson then pushed Mr. Torres into the bayou. ", State Rep. Ben Reyes of Houston, also a Mexican-American, called the verdict "pathetic" and "the worst miscarriage of justice that I've ever seen." The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican-American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. It's never had its own day, but is definitely something that should be remembered, a lesson of Houston history and among Mexican-Americans. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, where jailers refused to process him due to his injuries. When Black and Latino communities are asking for change, some people treat it like an impossibility, she says. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. If you are associated with a college or university, you may ask your library if they would like to become a sponsor, which would give students and faculty at your institution the ability to view items from our collection. This has destroyed all of us. According to Houston police, they got a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Janie Torres is the sister of Jose "Joe" Campos Torres, who on May 5, 1977 was beaten and thrown into Buffalo Bayou by Houston police officers. (Houston, Texas) Background of case involving alleged beating of Joe Campos Torres, which resulted in his drowning, by officers Terry Wayne Denson, Stephen Orlando and Joseph Janish given. 3 EXPOLICE OFFICERS CONVICTED IN HOUSTON, https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/09/archives/3-expolice-officers-convicted-in-houston-found-guilty-in-civil.html. In 1978, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Moody Park erupted into riots. Margaret Torres, mother of Joe Campos Torres, speaks to a crowd gathered at the Houston police station Oct. 8, 1977 to protest the verdict handed down by a Huntsville jury in the the murder trial of former Houston policemen Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando. Police attempts to break up the crowd were met with waves of retaliation by the attendees. Though he served in that role for less than three years, Caldwell instituted key reforms that still exist today, such as HPD's first internal affairs department, HPD's first formal manual and the first liaisons to minority communities. Houston Police lineup in riot gearin the 1978 Moody Park riots.. Houston Police in riot gearin the 1978 Moody Park riots.. Houston police make arrests in the 1978 Moody Park riots. Judge Sterling has been criticized recently by some members of a Federal grand jury here that handed up antiracketeering indictments against two oilbrokering firms. The apology to Torres' family was the first by any city official, and Finner promised to work with the family to build a monument in Torres' name. His body would end up in the Buffalo Bayou, where it was found three days later. After learning of Mr. Torres's death, Carless Elliott, a 20yearold rookie police officer who witnessed the incident, reported what he had seen to his superiors. Phone 615-322-2927. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. On May 8, Mr. Torres's body was found floating in the bayou. But Glenn L. Brinkmeyer, 25, one of those given immunity and an officer in whose wedding Denson had served as a groomsman, testified that Denson had pushed Torres. Assistant District Attorney Ted Poe talks about coordination between the District Attorney's Office and the grand jury. In interviews with members of the Chicano Squad, the podcast shines a light on its predicament. When they brought him to the station, according to the testimony of a police sergeant on duty, Mr. Torres needed medical treatment. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. See the article in its original context from. Houston firemen fight blaze which was reportedly set by rioters in the 4400 block of Fulton. Members of Houstons Latino community described the light sentences as a slap in the face. On the first anniversary of Torress death, protests reached a fever pitch during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Moody Park. Bring on the Shiplap? Torres' mother was quoted as saying, "If five Mexican killed a cop, it wouldn't be like this. HOUSTON, Oct. 30 Federal District Judge Ross N. Sterling, acting under orders from a Federal appeals court to impose prison terms on three former Houston police officers he had sentenced to probation for their roles in the death of a young MexicanAmerican man, today handed the three what amounted to an extra day in orison. 'Our ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point. Campos Torres was beaten by six officers for hours before they took him to the city jail. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. Police officers seen outside emergency entrance of Memorial Hermann following the fatal shooting of an on-duty Houston Police Department officer Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Houston. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. The jury returned a probated sentence of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Torres was allegedly beaten and then drowned by Houston police. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. A number of people have since been tried. Historian Dwight David Watson, who is interviewed in Chicano Squad, wrote a book on twentieth-century HPD history in which he traces its ties to the Ku Klux Klan in the twenties and the years of racist incidents and attempts at reform that followed. Join Facebook to connect with Terry Denson and others you may know. 1977 - Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston. After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. When the case was brought to federal court in February 1978, Denson, Orlando, and officer Joseph Janish were convicted of federal rights violations and were sentenced to one year in prison. Slowly, the Chicano Squad earned back the trust that HPD had lost. In 1977, Joe Campos Torres had been arrested at a Houston bar for disorderly conduct. Carlos Calbillo sits on railing near Buffalo Bayou near Commerce Street, the area where his friend Joe Campos Torres was killed by police in 1977. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. On the night of May 5, 1977, Houston police officers arrested Jos Campos Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War veteran, at an East End bar for disorderly conduct. He said it demonstrated once again that there is "a dual standard of justice" in Texas, adding, "Our only redress in the federal courts.". EXCLUSIVE: Lanzarote sticks to its guns and insists it WILL limit tourists and move away from relying on Jeremy Clarkson DENIES he has been sacked as Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the states Latino community. And to this day, Morales remains skeptical that the Chicano Squad was the answer. [Houston United States attorney Tony CANALES - thinks justice served.] Hector J. Garcia of Houston, chairman of the Coalition for Responsible Law Enforcement, whose group has been meeting with police officials since last April, said violent police incidents here show no sign of abating. A convenience store/drive-in grocery at 3814 Fulton is vandalized by riotersin the 1978 Moody Park riots. He drowned after being beaten by officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. Carless Elliott, the only rookie cop at the scene that night, later recalled in court the words of one of his fellow officers, the last words Torres must have heard before his body plunged into those dark waters: Lets see if this wetback can swim.. Its possible.. The officers on trial, Stephen Orlando, 21 years old, and Terry Denson . This was a test, and they had only a few months to prove themselves. Last month, members of Congress visited our city to learn about HPD's successful community programs. Note to sponsor members: The Vanderbilt Television News Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work properly. Complaints against members of the Houston Police Department may be initiated in person to a supervisor at any police substation throughout the City of Houston, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. During the research process, Moravec found that the Chicano Squad posted a consistently higher clearance rate than other HPD units. Although members of the Houston police force have previously been accused of brutality against prisoners, the Torres case is the first such incident to be brought to trial. Updated: June 20, 2015. Five months after Torress murder, an all-white jury found Denson and Orlando guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanor. Find Terry Denson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. (Studio) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody. This unedited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the Houston Police Department headquarters on May 16, 1977. Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. You've got five officers sworn to protect, five, sworn to protect and serve and murdered an active military soldier,'. A year later and still feeling as though justice had not been served, members of Houstons Hispanic community rose up in a post Cinco de Mayo riot at the citys Moody Park. Witnesses on the other side of the bayou couldnt make out what was happening in the darkness, but they heard a scuffle, then a splash. The trials drew national attention, and HPDs newly minted internal affairs unit was overwhelmed with complaints. By the time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him due to the extent of his injuries. Testimony at the Federal trial alleged that Mr. Torres was beaten severely after his arrest and forced to jump into the bayou by Mr. Denson, who told the man he wanted to see if a wetback can swim. Mr. Torres was a native Houstonian and a Vietnam veteran. In 2010, because HPDs increasingly diverse workforce now includes a higher number of Spanish-speaking officers, the group was disbanded. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Two days later, his body was found badly beaten floating in Buffalo Bayou. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. 'I will never be the same, my family will never be the same. David Courtney, a.k.a. Officer Terry Denson reportedly used . The protests that . The cops got to go home to their families while he was floating in the water for three days.". The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. October 7, 1977 Two former Houston policemen on trial for beating and drowning a Mexican-American prisoner in their custody last May were convicted by a jury today of misdemeanor charges that. 1 of 2. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. The squads success came from how connected they were to these neighborhoods. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. On June 28, a Harris County grand jury indicted two of the officers, Terry Denson and Steven Orlando, for murder and a third, J. J. Janisch, for misdemeanor assault. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. With limited resources and no prior detective training, they faced scrutiny from all sides. His body was found days later. Vanderbilt Television News Archive Torres' death and the light punishment the officers involved received would spark the infamous Moody Park riot one year later. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found May 8. He's gone. Houston makes national news all the time. On January 15, according to a $100,000 damage suit filed by Robert and Alice Gleason, N. W. Holloway and his partner J. T. Olin were among several other cops who stormed into their Pasadena trailer. Material supplied by VTNA may be used for educational analysis or research only. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. After a jail booking officer refused to accept Torres because of his injuries and ordered him taken to a hospital, the officers returned to the secluded spot, where one of them allegedly pushed him over a 17-foot embankment into the water after saying, "Let's see if this wetback can swim.". One of them removed the handcuffs. In just a few short years, relationships between HPD and Houston's Hispanic community had improved to such a degree that Caldwell even commended a local police critic during a LULAC convention, who in turn praised the chief for his efforts. The widely publicized case was moved on a change of venue to Huntsville, a town of 20,000, about 70 miles north of Houston. Mr. Elliott later became a prosecution witness at both trials. Any editing, reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. To some of their fellow officers, it didnt matter whether they wore a badge or passed their exam, they were Mexicans first. Welcome! The officers involved were found guilty of negligent homicide and ultimately given a year and a day in prison for civil rights violations. Torres drowned after he had been arrested by Houston police officers for creating a disturbance in an East End bar. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business.
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