THE MURDER OF JOSE CAMPOS TORRES
On May 8, 1977, Joe Campos Torres' body was found floating in the Buffalo Bayou. This story would make national headlines. Jose Campos Torres was a 23 year old army veteran of the Vietnam conflict. Torres had been arrested for public intoxication prior to his body being found in the bayou. Six officers participated in beating Torres; consequently, the jailer refused to process Torres and told the officers to take him to Ben Taub Hospital.
All six officers met at the bayou in the area officers called "the hole" with the badly beaten Torres still in their custody. Officer Denson said, "Let's see if the wetback can swim," and then shoved Torres into the bayou. Torres fell 20 feet. Three days later his body was found. His death was ruled a "drowning homicide."
Two officers, Denson and Orlando, were charged in state court with murder. They were convicted of negligent homicide and received one year of probation and a $1 fine. The Houston Post's headline read, "Murder is Not a Crime: If You Are a Police Officer." Federal charges ensued against Denson, Orlando, and Janish for civil rights violations and assault resulted in convictions. The judge gave them a ten year suspended sentence on the civil rights charge, and they served one year in federal prison for the assault charge.
The Houston Police Department was labeled the worst cops in the nation. Tensions and outrage between the community and the police department continued to grow. A year later, on May 7, 1978, the strains within the community exploded in riots at Moody Park on Houston's north side. This story made national headlines and eventually caused significant changes within the Houston Police Department.
All six officers met at the bayou in the area officers called "the hole" with the badly beaten Torres still in their custody. Officer Denson said, "Let's see if the wetback can swim," and then shoved Torres into the bayou. Torres fell 20 feet. Three days later his body was found. His death was ruled a "drowning homicide."
Two officers, Denson and Orlando, were charged in state court with murder. They were convicted of negligent homicide and received one year of probation and a $1 fine. The Houston Post's headline read, "Murder is Not a Crime: If You Are a Police Officer." Federal charges ensued against Denson, Orlando, and Janish for civil rights violations and assault resulted in convictions. The judge gave them a ten year suspended sentence on the civil rights charge, and they served one year in federal prison for the assault charge.
The Houston Police Department was labeled the worst cops in the nation. Tensions and outrage between the community and the police department continued to grow. A year later, on May 7, 1978, the strains within the community exploded in riots at Moody Park on Houston's north side. This story made national headlines and eventually caused significant changes within the Houston Police Department.