Articles tagged: Houston Police Department

After police in Austin shot “less-lethal” munitions at protesters in early June, injuring several people including a pregnant woman, a 16-year-old boy, and a 20-year-old college student who is expected to suffer serious brain damage, there were deafening calls for the firing of Austin Police Chief Brian Manley.

Reform vs. Rebuild: Defunding Law Enforcement in Texas

Years of activism and a legacy of police violence are fueling demands to reimagine public safety.

Wed, Jul 8, 2020 |

Reform vs. Rebuild: Defunding Law Enforcement in Texas Years of activism and a legacy of police violence are fueling demands to reimagine public safety. By Mich...Read More

by John Wright

Houston Black Lives Matter Group Slams Democrat’s Police Education Proposal for Teens

Tue, Oct 4, 2016 |

It says "‘When the police stop you, and they will, this is how we want you to act, even though we know you’re still going to get killed,'" said an activist....Read More

Janet Baker, joined by Houston activist Biko Gray, finishes recording the first episode of her KCOH radio show "Journey to Justice" in April. Baker's son Jordan was killed by an off-duty Houston police officer in 2014.

by Patrick Michels

Make the Road by Talking

Tue, Apr 26, 2016 |

Janet Baker, whose son Jordan Baker was shot by a cop, takes calls on-air during her first radio show for those who've lost loved ones to police violence....Read More

A criminalist tests a sexual assault kit in the Houston Forensic Science Center lab.

by Jonathan McNamara

Observer Radio Episode 79: Tackling Texas’ Rape Kit Backlog

Fri, Oct 10, 2014 |

http://podcasts.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Observer-Radio-79.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Android | RSS...Read More

Emily Burton-Blank, Justice Advocate for the Special Victims Division of the Adult Sex Crimes Unity.

by Jen Reel

Meet the Justice Advocate for HPD Adult Sex Crimes Unit

Wed, Oct 8, 2014 |

Justice Advocate Emily Burton-Blank talks about her role in the Houston Police Department for providing support to survivors and investigators of sexual assault...Read More

Pearl in her apartment, which she has called home for 25 years.

by Jo DePrang

To Catch a Rapist: Houston Leads on Testing Old Rape Kits

For years, Texas cops left nearly 20,000 rape kits untested while perpetrators went free. Now some agencies are confronting that injustice.

Wed, Oct 8, 2014 |

For years, Texas cops left nearly 20,000 rape kits untested while perpetrators went free. Now some agencies are confronting that injustice....Read More

by Jo DePrang

Houston Police Dept. Plagued By Fresh Scandal, Old Denial

Fri, Sep 26, 2014 |

HPD has plenty of problems--sexual harassment, forged tickets, neglected homicides--but the overarching one is denial....Read More

by Jo DePrang

Houston Cops Always Justified in Shootings. Always.

Thu, Aug 28, 2014 |

Houston police kill an average of one person every three weeks. According to all evaluating groups, they also never make mistakes....Read More

by Jo DePrang

How the Houston Cop Who Killed an Unarmed, Disabled Man Was Found Innocent

Police misconduct in shootings is "very very difficult" to prove, FBI agent says.

Mon, Nov 4, 2013 |

The Houston Police Department announced the results of its yearlong investigation into the shooting death of Brian Claunch, a mentally ill double amputee killed...Read More