WHEREAS, the League of United Latin American Citizens supports the purpose of fostering and enlarging the opportunities for training, education, civil rights, job opportunities, housing, economic development and welfare of all Hispanics in the United States;

WHEREAS, there has been an increase of reports in the number of high profile deaths of persons of color while in the custody of police officers and other law enforcement personnel in this county, and;

WHEREAS, the death of Luis Torres while in the custody of the Baytown Police Department has outraged the Hispanic and general community by the manner it was handled by the City of Baytown Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney.

WHEREAS, in Houston, Texas the death of Pedro Oregon by six Houston Police Department officers in 1998 brought a reminder and a chilling effect of another senseless and deplorable death in 1977 of Jose Campos Torres, and;

WHEREAS, other similar deaths, violations of minorities' civil rights, and complaints of excessive force by police and sheriff departments in the city of Houston and surrounding communities, and other parts of Texas have caused grief to loved ones of the victims and disturbed the tranquility in our nation.

WHEREAS, there exist concerns of minority representation and fairness of the grand jury system in Harris County and counties in the state of Texas by Hispanics, African Americans, and other minority groups.

WHEREAS, a report/article ranked the Houston Police Department, Harris Co. No. 2 in the nation for police killings, second only to Harris County Sheriff's Department, which is ranked No. 1. - (Source: the Houston Chronicle 11/04/01)

WHEREAS, there is an increasing fear of law enforcement officials in our communities, which places greater stress on good police officers, thereby causing them to seek employment elsewhere for the safety and security of their families.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that LULAC request the US Senate to conduct Congressional Hearings on the use of force, and police profiling in the Criminal Justice System in Harris County, and other countries in Texas.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the LULAC National President and National Board officers request the US Senate to conduct Congressional hearings regarding the use of force and police profiling in the criminal justice system in Harris County, and other counties in Texas. And that the President of the United States appoint a blue ribbon committee to seek solutions to this major problem in America.

Submitted by District XVIII.

Approved this 29th day of June, 2002.

Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President