Houston, Texas
Omar Ventura, 29, was killed and his brother Ronaldo Ventura, 27, was wounded outside the Sherlock's Baker Street Pub on West Gray early Saturday.
Six-year veteran Officer Jose Coronado was drinking at the club with friends when, he told HPD investigators, that a violent crowd attacked his friend.
The officer told HPD investigators that he identified himself as an officer numerous times as he intervened. He claimed he shot and killed Omar Ventura when the man threatened that he had a gun and then reached for his waistband.
HPD sources who are familiar with the Homicide Squad and Internal Affairs Division investigation told Local 2 Investigates that no gun was found on Omar Ventura's body or with any member of his party.
The sources also told Local 2 Investigates that most of the witnesses have given statements saying they never heard Omar say anything about having a gun before the officer opened fire.
HPD sources said Coronado was tested for alcohol at the department's Central Intox facility, where he tested below the legal driving limit of 0.08.
However, the sources noted that he was tested six hours after the shooting, so extrapolating the body's typical absorption of alcohol would indicate his blood could have contained as much as 0.16 alcohol, well above the limit for being legally intoxicated when the shooting happened.
Source and Video
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Had Contact With A Police Officer? Provide Rating Online
Well, just as there are review sites for professors, doctors and other professionals, we have found one dedicated to rating police officers. It's called Rate My Cop.
RATEMYCOP.com is a privately-held company based in Los Angeles. The website allows registered users to leave written feedback about their interactions with police officers, and rank the officer's service based on three criteria: Professionalism, Fairness and Satisfaction.
By the way, you can rate police officers from all over the country. If they are not listed yet, you have the option to add them.
Texas State Trooper Indicted on Aggravated Assault by a Peace Officer Charge for Beating Man After High-speed Chase
*Update*
April 12, 2011
A grand jury on Monday indicted State Trooper Andrew Papanos on a charge of aggravated assault by a peace officer.
Trooper Papanos was involved in an early morning high speed chase from Patton Village into Fort Bend County on Halloween. Papanos is accused of beating Ricki Kelley after the chase ended in Rosenberg.
In the weeks after the chase, the Ft. Bend County District Attorney's Office told us Kelley had to be airlifted to a hospital, but would not say how he was injured.
Papanos was suspended as a result of his actions and the pending investigation resulting from this chase. His employment status at DPS wasn't immediately known.
He could face up to life in prison if he's convicted on the first-degree felony charge.
Source
April 12, 2011
Trooper NO BILLED by Fort Bend grand jury after previously indicting him. Andrew Papanos no longer charged in previously alleged beating. Source
Houston, TexasA grand jury on Monday indicted State Trooper Andrew Papanos on a charge of aggravated assault by a peace officer.
Trooper Papanos was involved in an early morning high speed chase from Patton Village into Fort Bend County on Halloween. Papanos is accused of beating Ricki Kelley after the chase ended in Rosenberg.
In the weeks after the chase, the Ft. Bend County District Attorney's Office told us Kelley had to be airlifted to a hospital, but would not say how he was injured.
Papanos was suspended as a result of his actions and the pending investigation resulting from this chase. His employment status at DPS wasn't immediately known.
He could face up to life in prison if he's convicted on the first-degree felony charge.
Source
Houston Police Officer, Originally on Desk-Duty Following Fatal Shooting Has Now Been Suspended: HPD Keeping Quiet on Specifics
Houston, Texas
An off-duty Houston police officer who fatally shot one man and injured another while attempting to break up a fight in the parking lot of a bar over the weekend has been relieved of duty, authorities said Monday.
Officer Jose Coronado was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation of the shooting, said Houston Police Department spokesman John Cannon. Cannon would not elaborate on the reason for the suspension. Coronado previously had been placed on administrative desk duty — department policy for all shootings involving officers.
Officials said he fatally shot Omar Ventura and wounded the man's brother, Rolando Ventura, in an incident on Saturday involving a longtime friend of the officer.
Source
An off-duty Houston police officer who fatally shot one man and injured another while attempting to break up a fight in the parking lot of a bar over the weekend has been relieved of duty, authorities said Monday.
Officer Jose Coronado was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation of the shooting, said Houston Police Department spokesman John Cannon. Cannon would not elaborate on the reason for the suspension. Coronado previously had been placed on administrative desk duty — department policy for all shootings involving officers.
Officials said he fatally shot Omar Ventura and wounded the man's brother, Rolando Ventura, in an incident on Saturday involving a longtime friend of the officer.
Source
Monday, February 21, 2011
Trouble Brewing in Lexington's Police Department?
Lexington, Texas
On Feb. 9, there was a packed town hall meeting. One the agenda, it was complaints about the Lexington Police.
Racial profiling, overzealous police and complaints outlining abuse of power were all brought to light.
Weeks before the meeting, KXAN-TV in Austin began asking questions about a stack of complaints. For example, one woman who worked in a local store said Lexington Police Chief Randy Davenport made 15 to 20 sexual remarks to her at work in the fall of 2009 -- at one point asking her over to his hot tub, clothing optional.
The TV station later uncovered what sounds like a cover-up. City officials first stated they had no knowledge of complaints. After copies of letters sent to officials were presented, some decided that they might have copies somewhere in their offices.
Is there more about Police Chief Randy Davenport? What was found in Davenport's personnel file was a page of typed responses to a reference check done before he was hired in Lexington in March 2008. The sheriff in a county he worked for near Houston said if given a chance, he would not re-hire Davenport. At the time, he was an investigator with the Colorado County Attorney's Office. The sheriff said Davenport would often retrace and edit his deputy’s investigations and come up with conflicting statements.
“There were times it appeared [Davenport] was trying to have personal affiliations with female suspects being investigated," he also said.
Source
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Punishments for Houston Police Officers Often Unravel
Houston, Texas
Records show discipline is overturned or reduced 70% of the time.
Hearing examiners for the city have overturned or reduced nearly 70 percent of punishments given to Houston police officers by HPD management over the last 17 years, recently obtained records show.
The role of independent examiners is a key element in Houston's ability to discipline and remove dangerous officers from the force.
Perceptions of police misconduct and brutality in Houston have intensified so much recently that on Friday Mayor Annise Parker announced a new, independent police oversight board would replace the existing citizens' review committee to address ongoing concerns in the community.
The mayor's administration is also negotiating with police unions to replace most of the 10 examiners with a new slate of arbitrators.
The issue has become contentious as Police Chief Charles McClelland has fought to keep two officers from winning their jobs back after he fired them last year for their role in the beating of burglary suspect Chad Holley.
Both officers were reinstated to their jobs by hearing examiners.
Records show discipline is overturned or reduced 70% of the time.
Hearing examiners for the city have overturned or reduced nearly 70 percent of punishments given to Houston police officers by HPD management over the last 17 years, recently obtained records show.
The role of independent examiners is a key element in Houston's ability to discipline and remove dangerous officers from the force.
Perceptions of police misconduct and brutality in Houston have intensified so much recently that on Friday Mayor Annise Parker announced a new, independent police oversight board would replace the existing citizens' review committee to address ongoing concerns in the community.
The mayor's administration is also negotiating with police unions to replace most of the 10 examiners with a new slate of arbitrators.
The issue has become contentious as Police Chief Charles McClelland has fought to keep two officers from winning their jobs back after he fired them last year for their role in the beating of burglary suspect Chad Holley.
Both officers were reinstated to their jobs by hearing examiners.
Source
Another Blogs Perspective on The Problems With HPD
While our blog primarily focuses on police misconduct reports, we do like an occasional outside opinion on certain issues. In light of the problems facing the Houston Police Department, we found an interesting view.
The Accurate Thinker
The Accurate Thinker
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