NCJ Number
48709
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 33-40
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
WHILE ALLEGED POLICE MISCONDUCT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE IN HOUSTON, TEX., THE TORRES DROWNING THAT RESULTED IN THE CONVICTION OF THREE OFFICERS HAS BROUGHT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER INCREASING ATTACK AND SCRUTINY.
Abstract
CRITICISM OF THE POLICE FOR RACISM AND ABUSE OF AUTHORITY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY STRONG FROM BLACK AND CHICANO COMMUNITY LEADERS. HOWEVER, CRITICISM HAS COME NOT ONLY FROM MINORITY GROUPS -- POLICE MISCONDUCT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN EVERY MAYORAL ELECTION SINCE 1969. LOCAL OBSERVERS MAINTAIN THAT, DESPITE INCREASES IN CIVILIANS KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS, POLICE MISCONDUCT IS ACTUALLY DECREASING, WHILE COMMUNITY AND MEDIA AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM HAS INCREASED. A SERIES OF CASES HAVE BROUGHT THE ISSUE GREATER VISIBILITY. THE MOST NOTORIOUS OF THESE WAS THE TORRES HOMICIDE CASE. ON MAY 5, 1977, OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A BAR BRAWL INVOLVING TORRES, A MEXICAN-AMERICAN. TORRES RESISTED ARREST, AND THE OFFICERS REMOVED HIM FROM THE BAR AND BEAT HIM. RATHER THAN TAKING TORRES TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AS THEIR DUTY SERGEANT HAD INSTRUCTED THEM, THEY DECIDED TO RELEASE HIM. WHEN TORRES AGAIN BECAME ABUSIVE, THE OFFICERS TOOK HIM TO A SECLUDED WAREHOUSE AREA AND PUSHED HIM DOWN A 17-FOOT EMBANKMENT INTO A CANAL. TORRES' BODY WAS FOUND 3 DAYS LATER. THE OFFICERS WERE TRIED AND FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE. EACH WAS PLACED ON A YEAR'S PROBATION AND GIVEN A PROBATED $1,000 FINE. A GRAND JURY INDICTMENT OF 2 OF THE CONVICTED EX-OFFICERS BROUGHT A 1-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR BOTH. IN ADDITION TO THIS CASE, A NUMBER OF OTHER CASES HAVE PRODUCED SIZABLE CIVIL SUITS AGAINST THE POLICE AND CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC OUTCRY. THE ATTITUDE OF POLICE TOWARD THE TORRES CASE HAS GENERALLY HELD THAT, WHILE THE OFFICERS WERE IN THE WRONG, STANDARDS OF JUSTICE ARE TOO LENIENT FOR CRIMINALS AND TOO HARSH FOR POLICE. MORALE IN THE DEPARTMENT HAS DROPPED, AND MANY OFFICERS FEEL THEY ARE SEVERELY LIMITED IN THEIR AUTHORITY. RAPID GROWTH AND INSUFFICIENT DISCIPLINE ARE CITED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM. DESPITE THIS RAPID GROWTH, THE HOUSTON FORCE IS ALMOST ALL-WHITE, AND ONLY 15 PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES. POLICE CHIEF CALDWELL, WHO BECAME CHIEF IN JUNE 1977, HAS IMPOSED GREATER RESTRICTIONS ON POLICE USE OF FIREARMS, LENGTHENED THE TRAINING PERIOD, EXPANDED THE DUTIES OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT, AND INSTITUTED FIELD TRAINING FOR ROOKIES. WHILE MANY OF CALDWELL'S REFORMS HAVE MET WITH PUBLIC APPROVAL, THERE HAS BEEN RESISTANCE TO CHANGE WITHIN THE RANKS. ASSORTED PHOTOS ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)