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. Earlier this month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the appeal and ordered Judge Sterling to impose prison terms. ", 40 years ago police killed Joe Campos Torres sparking massive Moody Park Riots. Officer Terry W. Denson, 27, is charged with murder in Torres' death. 1977 - Joe Campos Torres -- his death triggered an outcry from the Mexican-American community about police brutality in Houston. 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. You've got five officers sworn to protect, five, sworn to protect and serve and murdered an active military soldier,'. His body was found days later. 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. Surviving members of Torres' family also spoke on Sunday. According to Houston police, they got a call about a missing 3-year-old girl at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/31/archives/3-former-officers-sentenced-in-texas-each-to-serve-extra-day-for.html. local news and culture, Olivia Flores Alvarez Outraged Mexican-American spokesman immediately called on the U.S. Justice Department to prosecute the case in federal court as a civil rights violation, for which the officers could receive up to life in prison. Rioters looted and set fire to a shopping center, and fifteen people were injured including five police officers and two news personnel. 6:00AM, Kinetic Celebrates Womens History Month with a World Premiere, What Your Favorite Mainline Final Fantasy Game Says About You. On May 5, 1977, Campos Torres, was arrested at a bar for disorderly conduct. 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. State District Judge James Warref of Walker County sentenced them to one year probation and a $1 fine. News car burns in background as youths prepare to burn Houston police car on Fulton Street. When do the clocks change in 2023? info@texasarchive.org The former officers have admitted that they beat their handcuffed prisoner for insolence before booking him. The judge received dismissed the case without explanation. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. . Testimony indicated that Oralando, who drove the patrol car in which Torres was transported, had encouraged Denson by "this would be a good time" to see if "the wetback" could swim. The group cleared forty homicides by the end of 1979 and later earned the recognition of the National Latino Peace Officers, in 1997, when they solved 91 percent of the cases theyd been assigned. The state granted immunity for two others, Glenn Brinkmeyer and Lewis Kinney, in exchange for their testimony. Adrian Garcia, former HPD officer and current Harris County commissioner, said some of his friends stopped talking to him when he joined the force, calling him a sellout. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Torres's body was found two days later. Moody Park riot that broke out following a Cinco de Mayo celebration in the park. After adjustments, if you continue to experience problems, please contact us. 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? In their barrios, things werent much better. Its possible.. 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. His body was found on May 8Mother's Day. Note to sponsor members: The Vanderbilt Television News Archive video player requires a modern operating system and browser to work properly. They had only ninety days to solve them. He drowned after being beaten by officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou. The Cavaliers said . The Killing of Jos Campos Torres. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Material supplied by VTNA may be used for educational analysis or research only. In the case of [Torres], theres racism, theres extreme brutality.. You have three options if you'd like to view this item: If you believe that you are associated with a sponsoring college or university and have received this message in error, please let us know. 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105 Chief Bond comments on the function of the Civilian Review Board. They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. ", 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." They were, however, later convicted of civil rights violations and served nine months in prison. She blends vividly reported details of decades-old events with personal anecdotes of similar struggles. Assistant District Attorney Ted Poe talks about coordination between the District Attorney's Office and the grand jury. 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. Forty-five year struggle wins a bit of justice. Houston Police Chief B. G. "Pappy" Bond holds a press conference in his office. 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. 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That trial took place in Huntsville, Tex., 70 miles north of Houston, because the defendants had said they could not get a fair trial in Houston. We can only hope that the next congressional delegation brings along Sessions so that he, too, can learn the story of Joe Campos Torres and Chief Caldwell. [Houston United States attorney Tony CANALES - thinks justice served.] Of the six, initially only officers Terry Denson and Steven Orlando were charged with murder. After the Huntsville verdict was reached last fall, pressure from Texas political leaders, including Gov. A Houston Chronicle reporter and photographer joined the Northeastern Trail Riders Association to document the highlights and challenges of life on the trail during the group's 108-mile journey to the 2023 Houston Letter from the editor: Introducing our exclusive new newsletter, Black trail riders head to Houston rodeo parade after grueling, joyful 6-day journey. By the time Torres arrived at the jail, authorities refused to book him due to the extent of his injuries. 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By 1977, the year Torres was killed, HPD had hired just 161 Hispanic officers to serve a community with more than 200,000 Latino residents. LOOKING BACK:Witnesses reflect on LA's Rodney King riot 25 years later. It's never had its own day, but is definitely something that should be remembered, a lesson of Houston history and among Mexican-Americans. Burning car flipped during a riot that began in nearby Moody Park. 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. info@texasarchive.org Divers search the Buffalo Bayou site where Joe Campos Torres' body was found floating May 8, 1977. As the story goes, the 23-year-old was beaten so severely that authorities refused to accept him into the City Jail. 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