https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Joe_Campos_Torres#Poem_for_Jos%C3%A9_Campos_TorresMurder of Joe Campos Torres
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José Campos Torres (December 20, 1953 – May 5, 1977) was a 23-year-old Mexican-American and Vietnam veteran who was beaten by several Houston Police Department (HPD) officers, which subsequently led to his death. He was assaulted by a group of on-duty police officers after being arrested for disorderly conduct at a bar in Houston's Mexican-American East End neighborhood. The officers convicted for the death of Torres, at the state level, received minimal sentencing; 1 year probation and a $1 fine. Torres' murder and sentencing sparked community outrage and lead to multiple community protests, with one gathering escalating to a riot. His death lead to advocacy based non-profits and HPD official's negotiations leading to the addition of policies addressing police-community racial relations.
After Torres' arrest at the bar, the officers took him to the city jail for booking. But, he was struck so brutally that authorities refused to book him into the jail. Instead, the police officers were ordered, by a supervisor, to take Torres to a local hospital for immediate medical treatment. The officers did not comply with the supervisor's order. Three days later, on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 1977 his dead body was found severely beaten and floating in the Buffalo Bayou, a creek on the outskirts of downtown Houston.
Terry W. Denson and Stephen Orlando, two of the arresting officers, were charged with murder following the discovery of Torres' body. Three other officers were fired from the HPD by Police Chief B.G. Bond, but no criminal charges were brought against the fired officers. A rookie officer who was present at the scenes of Torres' torture and drowning was a key witness for the prosecution. Denson and Orlando were convicted for Torres' death and found guilty of negligent homicide (a misdemeanor), sentenced to one year of probation and a one dollar fine. The all white jury, minimized criminal convictions, and sentencing sparked community outrage leading to multiple protests[2] and the 1978 Moody Park Riot.[3] The investigation of Torres' murder proved controversial. Following the State of Texas convictions of the two former officers, the Torres case was reviewed at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Justice, which led to three of the officers' federal convictions for violating Torres' civil rights.
Torres' murder generated significant newspaper articles across the United States, while national televised mainstream media has no history of 'special' reports nor any episodes reporting the circumstances leading to his murder. Newspaper outlets initially focusing on his assault and drowning soon turned their attention to the historic racism, lack of HPD over watch and the reoccurring absence of state and federal investigations.
Torres' murder led to a locally produced, 30-40 minute documentary entitled The Case of Joe Campos Torres revealing the murderous event and the repeated history of police misconduct in Houston. The year following his death, a poetic song by vocalist and activist Gil Scott-Heron, titled "Poem for José Campos Torres" was created reflecting the struggles of racism and police criminal actions.
Contents
• 1 Background
• 2 Incident
• 3 Trials
• 4 Moody Park Riot
• 5 Popular culture
o 5.1 Books
o 5.2 Music
5.2.1 Poem for José Campos Torres
5.2.2 El Ballad De José Campos Torres
5.2.3 Moody Park Riot (José Campos Torres)
o 5.3 Television
5.3.1 Interview with Janie Torres
o 5.4 Films
5.4.1 The Case of Joe Campos Torres
• 6 See also
• 7 References
• 8 External links
