HOUSTON POLICE SHOOTING DEMANDS PUBLIC SCRUTINY

In most circumstances, San Antonians would find little reason to pry
into another city's official business. But the ongoing saga of a
Houston police shooting compels public scrutiny beyond its borders.

The background: Six members of a Houston Police Department gang task
force raided the apartment of Pedro Oregon Navarro, 22, early on the
morning of July 12 on a tip from a man who had just been pulled over
for public intoxication. The man said drugs were being sold at the
apartment.

Without a warrant, officers forcibly entered Oregon's apartment,
kicked in his bedroom door and shot him 12 times. Nine of the shots
hit Oregon in the back. The officers said Oregon had pointed a gun at
them, but a weapon never was fired. Nor were drugs found in the apartment.

One officer emptied his gun into Oregon, reloaded and continued
firing, discharging 24 of 33 bullets directed at Oregon, the Houston
Chronicle reported.

All six officers were fired this week. A Harris County grand jury
declined to indict although one officer was charged with a misdemeanor
criminal trespass.

Conversely, reviews conducted by an internal disciplinary committee
and a civilian review panel both recommended the firings. Houston
Police Chief C.O. Bradford said the six were fired for lying and for
violating several HPD policies, the constitutional protection against
unlawful searches and state official oppression laws.

Latino activists are pressing for a second hearing with a different
grand jury, one that could be told of the department's disciplinary
action. But the Harris County district attorney thus far has refused.

His obstinacy, as well as the grand jury's actions, are troubling.
They suggest that in Houston, and, by extension, Texas, the U.S.
Constitution applies only to certain people and Oregon wasn't one of
them. The disturbing perception casts a pall on the city.

Until this matter is satisfactorily resolved, the pall also hangs over
the state.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry