The Disturbing Truth About Brutality Complaints With The Houston Police Department

Houston, Texas

Tonight, ABC13 took a look into the truth about Houston police brutality complaints -- they virtually never result in an officer getting punished.

HPD's own records paint a controversial portrait; during the last decade, 2,135 complaints about alleged police brutality. Only 33 were sustained -- less than two percent. And if you count only citizen complaints, the number of times the brutality allegation has been confirmed is just 16 -- 16 of more than 2,100.

Even HPD brass admits without the recent video depicting officers beating teenager Chad Holley, the officers would have likely never faced an internal probe.



But there's another reason too. None of the HPD officers on the scene that day said a word about what we can all clearly see on the video.

Under current state law, a person who complains about a cop is not allowed to even see what internal affairs investigations did, who they talked to.

And the public isn't allowed to see an officer's history of complaints unless police prove they are true. We've got the numbers but no names.

Check out the stats
 
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Diboll police chief pleads guilty to theft

Diboll, Texas

Diboll Police Chief, Kent Havard, pleaded guilty to theft by a public servant, and was sentenced to 3 years deferred adjudication probation according to Angelina County's District Attorney, Clyde Herrington.

Under the terms of Havard's probation he must pay a $500 fine. He must also permanently surrender his peace officer license within 60 days. In addition, Havard owes the City of Diboll an estimated $5,100 in restitution.

Earlier this month, the former police chief resigned following an investigation. According to Herrington, city officials noticed some discrepancies in credit charges.

Herrington said Havard kept several reimbursement checks issued to the city. He also, made unauthorized credit card charges at Minute Maid park, and Walmart, and he admitted he took money from the police department's scholarship fund.

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Houston's KTRK To Expose Mountain of Brutality Complaints, Internal Corruption and Cover-ups, Within Houston Police Department

KTRK-TV Houston's Wayne Dolcefino, tonight at 10, will uncover a mountain of brutality complaints against the Houston Police Department. Also, internal corruption and a system designed to protect the officer and cover-up complaints.

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Cameron Co. Sheriff's deputy gets nearly 5 years in prison for gun smuggling

Cameron County, Texas

A Cameron County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to gun smuggling charges.

Jesus A. Longoria, 31, appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle for the sentencing.

Longoria had been employed as a sheriff’s deputy since March 2006. He resigned Nov. 1, the day he was arrested, authorities said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that Longoria admitted that while assigned in May to the Veterans International Bridge and Gateway International Bridge, he tried to export 13 semiautomatic firearms from the U.S. to Mexico.

Longoria said he believed the weapons were to be used by a Mexican drug cartel. In exchange for letting the guns through, he said he was paid $4,000.

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Texas state trooper gets 30-180day jail sentence in plea deal for selling steroids to Kerrville TX police officer

Kerrville, Texas

Former state trooper Jeff Jerman was sentenced Friday to 30 to 180 days in prison and three years of probation after admitting that he sold $800 worth of steroids to a Kerrville police officer from his patrol car.

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Suspended Lubbock ISD Chief of Police resigns, after being drunk with badge and gun

Mark Hinshaw

Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock ISD Superintendent Karen Garza has accepted the resignation of Mark Hinshaw, former LISD Chief of Police.

Hinshaw was placed on paid administrative leave last month, following an incident at La Diosa cellars. Lubbock police reported that Hinshaw was intoxicated while carrying his gun and wearing his badge. Officers responded and took his weapon, but Hinshaw was not arrested.

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Mesquite officer accused of stealing cash in federal sting

Dallas, Texas

A Mesquite police sergeant who was the head of the department's narcotics unit was arrested Thursday morning by federal authorities on charges that he stole $2,000 during an undercover money courier operation.

Mesquite Police Sgt. John David McAllister, 42, faces one charge of theft of government money.

If convicted, McAllister faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

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