He was on duty at the time of the murder and HPD discovered he. . Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob arrives, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Report: Houston ranked No. According to the podcast, between 1950, when the police department hired its first Hispanic officer, and 1970, HPD had hired fewer than 20 Hispanic officers. Judge Sterling, who issued the sentences today without comment, was appointed to the Federal bench by President Ford in 1976. In San Antonio, a Road Map for the Future of Texas Art, A Users Guide to All the Banned Books in Texas, Author John Graves Was a Literary Godfather to Texas Monthly, The Best High School Basketball Team in Texas Doesnt Need a State Title, The Photo the Dallas Cowboys Never Wanted the Public to See, Wouldnt People Like Some Good News?: The Lasting Popularity of Texas Country Reporter. Houston firemen fight a blaze which was reportedly set by rioters in the 4400 block of Fulton. 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. Two days later, his body was found badly beaten floating in Buffalo Bayou. The comments below have not been moderated. 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. For years, [HPD] operated with impunity, he says. All the while, she draws parallels to present-day discrimination against Latinos and the ongoing demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice. Carrying picket signs reading "Protection not police brutality" and "Stop the war against Chicano people," the demonstrators were protesting the police-involved death of Jos Campos Torres. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Aided by the research of producer and Austin-based journalist Eva Ruth Moravec, Alonzo guides listeners through interviews with Chicano activists, former police officers, scholars, and Torress family members. "We never got justice," his sister Sandra Torres told the Houston Chronicle in 2011. Abe Weiner, owner of the Leonard's Department Store in the same shopping center which suffered looting and smoke damage, said the store burned over an hour before firemen responded to the call for help. Houston's independent source of Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Decades before the recent police violence in Memphis, a brutally beaten Latino man was tossed by officers into a Houston bayou and drowned. Divers search the murky water of Buffalo Bayou in an unsuccessful attempt to find a wallet belonging to a southeast Houston man allegedly drowned by a policeman. 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. The Cavaliers said . [Houston United States attorney Tony CANALES - thinks justice served.] The three former officers are to be sentenced late next month. Ruben Bonilla, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, termed the sentences a shocking, obnoxious misuse of Federal power and urged that Judge Sterling be impeached. The Department of Justice is supposed to fill that leadership role at a national level. Last month, members of Congress visited our city to learn about HPD's successful community programs. The three foriner officers, Terry W. Denson, 27 years old, Stephen Orlando, 22, and Joseph J. Janish, 24, were convicted after a twoweek trial on two counts of violating the civil rights of. As news of the atrocity spread, Torress name became a rallying cry that united the citys Latino community in its search for justice. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Torres, an American citizen and a former serviceman, was wearing combat boots at the time of the fatal plunge. 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. Rather than taking him directly to the nearby jail, six responding Houston Police Department officers took a detour to a secluded spot near Buffalo Bayou that they called The Hole. Torres' death and the light punishment the officers involved received would spark the infamous Moody Park riot one year later. On an overcast evening in early May 1977, 23-year-old Vietnam War veteran Jose Campos Torres was in handcuffs for drunk and disorderly conduct at a cantina in Houstons East End. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. Two Houston police officers stand guard over a wrecked convenience store at 3814 Fulton. The six arresting officers instead took him, once again, to The Hole. There, the officers beat Torres, bruising and bloodying him to the point that when they finally drove him to the city jail, officials there wouldnt process him, telling the officers to take him to a nearby hospital. Defense attorney Bob Bennett and his client, Terry Denson, exit the courtroom to deliver comments to the press. Calbillo is one of several people working to get a historical marker for Torres. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. As the story goes, the 23-year-old was beaten so severely that authorities refused to accept him into the City Jail. info@texasarchive.org About 150 protesters met at Commerce and San Jacinto on May 21, 1977 near the site where the body of Joe Campos Torres was found just weeks before. Surviving members of Torres' family also spoke on Sunday. the Texanist, is a staff writer. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. They couldnt fail. That sort of exchange previously would have been unimaginable. By the following morning, 28 demonstrators had been taken into custody. In 2004, Poe was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving for 14 years. Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. One of them removed the handcuffs. Top 5 Sickest Stephen King Sex Scenes (NSFW), The 10 Best And Most Controversial Hustler Magazine Covers Ever (NSFW). By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. She blends vividly reported details of decades-old events with personal anecdotes of similar struggles. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. Austin, TX 78751, Grand Jury Investigation into the Death of Jos Campos Torres (1977). However, Houston's police chief issued a statement saying that "the processes of justice have prevailed over demagoguery.". Cat Cardenas is a writer focused on culture, entertainment, and the states Latino community. Because the felony and misdemeanor sentences are concurrent, the three will probably serve less than a year in prison. local news and culture, Olivia Flores Alvarez And as Mosqueda recalls, many non-Latino officers were happy to throw around the word wetbackthe same pejorative hurled at Torres before his death. Officials at the jail refused to book Torres due to his injuries, and told the officers to bring him to a hospital. Slowly, the Chicano Squad earned back the trust that HPD had lost. According to the Houston Police Department, officers spotted a black Honda Accord that was reported stolen out of College Station at about 5:10 p.m. near Fairbanks North Houston and West Little York. Instead, they brought him back to the Hole. Six police officers took Torres to a spot called "The Hole" next to Buffalo Bayou and beat him. 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.. It goes to show how those moments of crisis and scandal within our public institutions become important opportunities for forward-looking leaders. Chief Troy Finner issued the apology on Sunday to the family of Joe Campos Torres, a Mexican-American Vietnam War veteran, who was beaten to death and his body dumped in the Buffalo Bayou by Houston police officers in 1977. According to Houston police, they got a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. ", 40 years ago police killed Joe Campos Torres sparking massive Moody Park Riots. 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.". Attorneys for the three defendants pointed out that the new sentences, because they exceed one year, would render the former officers eligible for parole, which would not be the case had their sentences remained at precisely one year. Two additional officers at the scene, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, were suspended from duty but granted immunity by the state in exchange for their testimony. LOOKING BACK:Witnesses reflect on LA's Rodney King riot 25 years later. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights. Killings, planted evidence and a federal discrimination lawsuit all provided the fuel that Torres' death set ablaze at an event known as the Moody Park Riot. 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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. More than 40 people were arrested during the riots, which became nationwide news and led to the creation of HPD's internal affairs department. Jerry Click/ Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 35 of 56 Houston police officers administer first aid to Officer Tommy A. Britt, injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington . Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The sergeant said he told the officers to take the prisoner to a nearby hospital; instead, they took Mr. Torres back to the 16foot embankment overlooking Buffalo Bayou near downtown Housotn, where they had beaten him. 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. Instead, the officers returned to The Hole, where they continued to beat Torres. They were able to gain the trust of victims and witnesses because they knew how Hispanic Houstonians really lived.. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. The pain is a lot deeper than what you could have ever imagined. Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. The Houston Police Department first arrested Phillips's replacement, a Security Guard Services, Inc. employee named Robert Taylor. Houston. In Chicano Squad, an eleven-episode podcast released in January by Vox Media, host and actress Cristela Alonzo follows Houstons attempts to grapple with the aftermath of Torress death, which included the creation of the first all-Latino homicide squad in the country. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. The killing of Torres - a Hispanic veteran arrested at an East End bar - was the spark that set off a series of protests, firings and reforms that eventually transformed the Houston Police Department into the modern crime-fighting institution that we know today. Chief Bond introduces possible disciplinary action against the offending officers through the civil service law, KPRC reporter Don Shelby speculates on the possibility of a second assault on Torres in between the time when officers brought him to the jail and when he ended up in the bayou. REPORTER: Walter Cronkite, (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. 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. A desk sergeant ordered the six officers to take Torres to Ben Taub General Hospital for medical treatment. 1977 - Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston. 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. The two officers convicted in the Torres' case are expected to be sentenced within a few days. 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? Its not uncommon for the stories of Latinos to be minimized or excluded entirely from Texas history books. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. 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. Officer Terry Denson reportedly used . ", 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." A gutted variety store at a shopping center in the 3100 block of Fulton. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. Who Said It: Legendary Houston Comedian Bill Hicks or New El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks? This unedited footage from Houston's KPRC-TV captures protesters outside the Houston Police Department headquarters on May 16, 1977. Carlos Calbillo sat on railing next to Buffalo Bayou near Commerce Street Tuesday. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. Torres' mother was quoted as saying, "If five Mexican killed a cop, it wouldn't be like this. This has destroyed all of us. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. They were ordered to take him to Ben Taub General Hospital, but instead of doing so, the officers brought him back to the banks of Buffalo Bayou and pushed him into the water. After adjustments, if you continue to experience problems, please contact us. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Garcia said there had been progress in that Chief Harry Caldwell has required officers to register the extra weapons they carry with them, has banned the use of "long rifles" such as deer rifles, and has forbidden officers to shoot at fleeing suspects who aren't threatening their safety or that of others. Phone 615-322-2927. (Studio) Report on conviction of 3 former Houston policemen accused of violating civil rights of Mex.-American who drowned while in their custody. Torres' nephew, Richard Molina, said the family is in communication with the city to find a proper way to memorialize his uncle. Five of the officers were charged in the death, with two convicted of negligent homicide, and the other three convicted of violating Torres' civil rights. (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. It is the headquarters for the Texas prison system. 'Let's get this clear because there's been some chatter in the neighborhoods [about] how Chief Finner feels about this,' he said of Torres' death, 'and that is straight-up murder of somebody. How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Why the Texans should take Bijan Robinson with the No. Torres was 23 on the night of May 5, 1977, when he was arrested for disorderly conduct at a bar, according to reports from the Houston Chronicle at the time. In the case of [Torres], theres racism, theres extreme brutality.. . Consider it our city's version of the Ferguson protests. Torres drowned after he had been arrested by Houston police officers for creating a disturbance in an East End bar. The officers on trial, Stephen Orlando, 21 years old, and Terry Denson . Facebook gives people the power to. City officials vowed to memorialize Torres in some way, The worst thing for her, she said was that, 'No matter how many apologies we get, it can never change the fact because Joe, at the end, never got justice.'. Following another beating, officers pushed Torres off a raised platform into Buffalo Bayou. Each to Serve Extra Day for Roles in Suspect's Death Judge Assailed as Too Lenient. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. And those who chronicled the attack said the executioner was. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. Two days after Torres was arrested, his mangled body was found floating in Buffalo Bayou. 'Our ultimate goal is humanizing our uncle at this point. Dozens were arrested and 15 were injured as protesters clashed with police in one of the citys most notorious riots. All six officers were found guilty of violating Torres' civil rights, and given a ten-year suspended sentence. The department wanted to rebuild its reputation fast. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. This is a carousel. An all-white jury found them guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanorand sentenced the officers to a year's probation and a $1 fine. When you look at the records of some of their arrests, youll find lacerated livers, fractured skulls, broken hands. His drowned body was found three days later on May 8, 1977 - exactly 40 years ago today. Joining HPD was regarded almost as a betrayal. We can change these systems. New Higher Salaries! Divers were hoping to find a wallet belonging to Torres. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. A group of Houston police cadets gathered Friday morning to hear family members of Joe Campos Torres speak of their loved one's death by officers in 1977. . 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. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. ,The allwhite jury of seven men and five women was in its second day of deliberations after a trial conducted by Judge Ross N. Sterling, and had deliberated for a total of seven hours before reaching the verdict. All of the jurors were white, none was Mexican-American and five either worked for law enforcement agencies or had relatives who did. and help keep the future of the Houston Press, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, HPD Investigating Victims' Crime Advocate Andy Kahan, A Murder in Montrose: the Paul Broussard Legacy. We need to be honest about our history in order to learn from it, because decades later, the same thing is still happening., For decades before Torress murder, violent encounters with HPD officers had soured the relationship between the police department and the citys Black and Latino communities. There, they brutally beat him for several hours. The jury heard four weeks of testimony alleging that six police officers had taken Joe Campos Torres, 23, a laborer, from a cheap cantina, where he was arrested for public drunkeness, to a secluded spot near a bayou, where five of them beat him severely while his arms were handcuffed behind his back. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. For Alonzo, the Chicano Squad is a reminder that reform is possible, even if its difficult to sustain. After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. See the article in its original context from. You were a victim [of a crime], so Im going to treat you as a victim. 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. A new podcast explores the history of the Chicano Squad as part of a Houston police department effort to repair its broken relationship with the Latino community. 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. 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. Police killed Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in.... 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