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. When police attempted to make an arrest at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Moody Park, attendees began throwing rocks and overturning police cars. In the wake of Torress death, frustrated residents of Houstons barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. 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. On the one-year anniversary of Torres' death, the simmering social unrest erupted into riots. 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. . "No parade, no day of remembrance. In their barrios, things werent much better. When they brought him to the station, according to the testimony of a police sergeant on duty, Mr. Torres needed medical treatment. Houston police take man into custody during Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. Become a member to support the independent voice of Houston Houstonians should take pride in knowing that a once-troubled department is now a model for the nation. The people would open their hearts towards us because we were able to communicate with them, Mosqueda says in the podcast. The judge gave the three suspended sentences of 10 years, plus five years probation, on the felony charge that resulted from Mr. Torres's death. '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. An all-white jury found them guilty of negligent homicidea misdemeanorand sentenced the officers to a year's probation and a $1 fine. Denson testified that Torres had said he could swim and had jumped into the water. When Black and Latino communities are asking for change, some people treat it like an impossibility, she says. HOUSTON, Feb. 8 Three former Houston police officers were found guilty in Federal District Court here today of beating a MeicanAmerican prisoner last May and then pushing him into a downtown bayou, where he drowned. And those who chronicled the attack said the executioner was. HPD offers a rewarding career, exceptional benefits and a competitive salary. Holland, 80, previously was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The location is just off the 1200 block of Commerce. He's gone. Two of the officers who had beaten Torres, Terry W. Denson and Stephen Orlando, were charged with murder. 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. By the time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him due to the extent of his injuries. Instead, they returned him to the hole, where they continued to beat him, and where he was either pushed or fell into the bayou. For years, [HPD] operated with impunity, he says. This has destroyed all of us. Following a month-long trial, an all-white jury convicted Denson and Orlando on a reduced charge of negligent homicidea misdemeanoron October 6. 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. The officers then took Torres to the city jail, who refused to process him due to his injuries. Host Alonzo, a self-proclaimed history nerd, often spent time in history classes in the Rio Grande Valley thumbing through her books trying to find important figures that looked like her. The squad did not have a single fatal officer-involved shooting during its three-decade tenure. The officers involved were found guilty of negligent homicide and ultimately given a year and a day in prison for civil rights violations. In 1978, the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Moody Park erupted into riots. 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. 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. Moment fitness influencer asks man to move off park bench 'because he's 'ruining her livestream' - but Mortgage demand plummets to a 28-year low as average interest rates hit 6.71% - just as spring home buying Britain braces for brutal -9C Arctic snap: Met Office warns more snow and ice could lash the country next ISIS fanatic jailed over the gruesome beheading of two Scandinavian women hikers in Morocco that shocked the Shamima Begum and other British women who joined Islamic State and are being held in Syria will 'ultimately' Is YOUR wood burner at risk? Six police officers took Torres to a spot called "The Hole" next to Buffalo Bayou and beat him. Slowly, the Chicano Squad earned back the trust that HPD had lost. They had only ninety days to solve them. The case, in which the officers could have received sentences of life in prison, has been the focus of many charges of police brutality against Hispanic citizens. Latinos around town began pinning a single dollar bill to their shirts, meant to symbolize what their lives were worth in the eyes of the criminal justice system. Denson and Orlando were also convicted of assault and sentenced to nine months in prison. Before that he was a member of the Houston law firm of Vinson, Elkins, to which John B. Connally, the Republican presidential candidate, also belongs. Burning car flipped during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. By Gloria Rubac posted on April 12, 2022. Articles about the drowning of Joe Campos Torres appeared in the Houston Chronicle on May 15, 1977. The six arresting officers instead took him, once again, to The Hole. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. If you are experiencing playback problems, check the minimum requirements and adjust your setup accordingly. 1977, Houston Police officer Terry Denson yelled, "Let's see if this wetback can swim!" Denson, along with five other white policemen (Louis Kinney, Glen Brinkmeyer, Joseph Janish, Stephen Orlando, and Carless Elliot) had arrested Torres after responding to a complaint of a drunken Houston, and its police department, had to respond. REPORTER: Dennis Murphy (KHOU-TV) Artist: Harris Milam. 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. 'My mother was never the same after Jose was killed,' his sister Janie Torres, who was 10 at the time her brother's death, said. 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. By John M. Crewdson; Special to The New York Times. In the wake of Torres's death, frustrated residents of Houston's barrios staged rallies and protests around the city. Terry Denson, 27; Stephen Orlando, 22, and Joseph J. Janish, 22 -- said they do not plan to appeal the . He said it demonstrated once again that there is "a dual standard of justice" in Texas, adding, "Our only redress in the federal courts.". The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The sentences that Judge Sterling imposed were each one year and one day, but they were set to run concurrently with separate oneyear sentences he imposed on the three men last year for a misdemeanor count of violating the victim's civil rights. The judge received dismissed the case without explanation. The unidentified suspect was suspected of throwing a brick during the riot. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. To some of their fellow officers, it didnt matter whether they wore a badge or passed their exam, they were Mexicans first. | Films shown; previous state trial of 2 officers and demands of local Mex.-Americans for Justice Department probe noted. 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. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. Following another beating, Campos Torres was pushed off the raised platform and fell 20 feet into the Bayou, where his body was found three days later. The widely publicized case was moved on a change of venue to Huntsville, a town of 20,000, about 70 miles north of Houston. Last month, members of Congress visited our city to learn about HPD's successful community programs. 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. Defense attorney Mike Ramsey and his client, Steven Orlando, follow. This is a carousel. Dozens were arrested and 15 were injured as protesters clashed with police in one of the citys most notorious riots. Forty-five year struggle wins a bit of justice. Any editing, reproduction, publication, rebroadcast, public showing or public display may be prohibited by copyright laws. Houston police officers give first aid to officer Tommy A. Britt who was injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington and Fulton during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The Torres case prompted the Houston Police Department to create its Internal Affairs Division in 1977. David Courtney, a.k.a. A local boat operator called the police, identifying Torres by the military dog tags still hanging around his neck. HPD is now hiring for our upcoming classes. Sometimes it's our sports teams, sometimes it's the happenings over at NASA, a breakthrough at the Medical Center or our atrocious weather that's in the headlines. 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. Officers Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando were convicted of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and were fined $1 and sentenced to probation. One of the counts, involving a violation of Federal civil rights laws in which death results, is a felony, with the maximum sentence life in prison. A gutted variety store at a shopping center in the 3100 block of Fulton. "The environment that created the Torres case continues to exist," Garcia said, "and we can expect a continuation of the same kind of thing.". Brinkmeyer said Denson previously had boasted throwing a wino down a ravine and had beaten other hand-cuffed prisoners. 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. Rather than transport him to jail for booking, the six responding officers first took Torres to "The Hole," an isolated area behind a warehouse along Buffalo Bayou. 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. His body was found days later. Sam Buyajian 33, surveys the wreckage of his drive-in grocery at 3814 Fulton. A number of people have since been tried. Mr. Torres's body was found in a Houston bayou on May 9, 1977, two days after he was arrested by Mr. Denson and other officers in a latenight barroom disturbance. There, they brutally beat him for several hours. info@texasarchive.org 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. Sunday's formal apology comes after Finner and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner met privately with Torres' family over Memorial Day weekend, but wanted to make a public showingABC 13 reported. About 100 persons rallied Saturday in front of the Houston police station to protest the sentences two former officers received following the death of Joe Campos Torres. The US Department of Justice subsequently conducted its own investigation. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. Once there, officials refused to book him because of the extent of his injuries, and ordered that he be admitted to a hospital. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. Poe served as a chief felony prosecutor for eight years before being appointed a state district judge in 1981. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. Houston police officers administer first aid to Officer Tommy A. Britt, injured by a car that broke through a police line at Irvington and Fulton during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. Where's my brother? Anyone can read what you share. 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. Report: Houston is the No. 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. Terry W Denson of Harris County, Texas was born c. 1950. View Terry Denson results in Texas (TX) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. See the article in its original context from. His drowned body was found three days later on May 8, 1977 - exactly 40 years ago today. 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. When do the clocks change in 2023? Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 'I am the chief of police, but I am a son of Houston, and what people need to understand is if you cannot see and feel 44 years of pain and suffering of this family, you're not human,' Finner said. After their conviction in March of last year, Judge Sterling sentenced the three former officers, all of whom were dismissed by the Houston Police Department within hours of the discovery of Mr. Torres's body, to a year in prison on the misdemeanor charge. The case and its verdict outraged the local Mexican-American community, sparking protests outside the Harris County Courthouse and police headquarters. 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. Police officers took Torres to a spot called "The Hole" next to Buffalo Bayou and beat him. 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.". It is the headquarters for the Texas prison system. The victim, Joe Campos Torres, 23, allegedly was dumped off the 25-foot retaining wall into the bayou last Friday. With limited resources and no prior detective training, they faced scrutiny from all sides. Police sergeant on duty, Mr. Torres needed medical treatment reflect the views expressed in the of. Is the headquarters for the Texas prison system home delivery and digital.... Took Torres to a year 's probation and a day in prison surveys the of. With limited resources and no prior detective training, they brutally beat him police headquarters their fellow officers, didnt... 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