By Brian Balboa
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Police are hired to patrol the streets and make our cities a safer place. They serve and protect the rights of citizens while eliminating the criminal element. But, who monitors the police when they violate those individual rights or become a part of the criminal element themselves?

Police organizations have internal affairs divisions that deal with illegal police activity. For Houston resident Ernesto Aguilar, that is not good enough. Since September, Aguilar, 33, and other volunteers from Houston Copwatch have been monitoring police activity in and around the greater Houston area.

Houston Copwatch is the newest chapter of Copwatch, a nonviolent, national grassroots citizen's organization against police brutality. The organization's objective is to observe the activities of police on the streets with video cameras, notebooks, tape recorders and still cameras to prevent abuse of power and misconduct.

"Primarily in police brutality issues, some of our most active people have had family members who have been killed by the police," Aguilar said. "They've been looking for something to [join] because there really aren't any organizations that are addressing the issues."

Diane Bossom is a Houston resident who experienced the loss of a loved one. Her ex-husband died while in police custody. Bossom, 45, is now an active Copwatch member fighting against police brutality.

"My ex-husband was found dead," Bossom said. "[He was] black and blue from head-to-toe, face down in a pool of blood, in a jail in Texas. We were told that he died of natural causes. I joined Copwatch to be part of a pro-active group that is speaking out and doing something to stop police brutality and misconduct."

Aguilar said there are police officers who do not believe police brutality exists or that racism in the police departments exists. Although the organization's Web site states Copwatch is not a political organization, Aguilar said they are political in some sense.

"I think that we're political in the sense that we admit a few things that police and public officials often don't want to acknowledge," Aguilar said. "Our group is very, very clear in acknowledging that people of color are targeted by police. I think virtually every study that has come out on this type of topic has pointed this out. We need to all be honest and acknowledge that there is a problem with misconduct on police forces."

Almost as soon as the Houston chapter was formed, Copwatch members notified more than 20 Houston-area law enforcement agencies that they would be monitored. In an October press release to police departments, Copwatch members requested a written acknowledgement of their notice. In addition, the members requested a written affirmation of Copwatch's rights and a pledge that officers will respect the rights of citizens who take part in the police monitoring.

"Some responded, some did not," Aguilar said. "Some have responded via the press."

To date, only three police departments have responded directly to Copwatch: the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and the Pasadena and Bellaire police departments. Among the police departments that have responded via the press are the Baytown Police Department, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff's Department. The organization has received mixed reviews by both local residents and police departments.

"As long as [Copwatch] does not interfere [with day-to-day operations] we have no problem," said Robert Hurst, HPD spokesman. "If they find something that they think [HPD] should look at then we encourage them to send it to us and bring it to our attention."

Hurst also said that so far there have been no officer complaints about Copwatch.

Many college police departments and school district police departments were also notified that they would be monitored. Two UH-System police departments, University of Houston and University of Houston-Downtown, were among the college police departments notified.

Although UH-Clear Lake's police department was not notified by Copwatch, Aguilar said no police department is exempt from being monitored.

"I welcome them to monitor this department," said Lt. Derrell Means. "I'm confident that this department maintains compliance with state law, the rules and regulations of this university, and the rules and rules and regulations of this UH System."

UH-Clear Lake's police department has never been investigated for police brutality and Means said the department has nothing to hide. Means also said if police departments comply with the law, then there is no reason for them not to be monitored by outside organizations unless it interferes with their day-to-day operations.

For more infomation on Houston Copwatch call (713) 559-1359 or go to www.houstoncopwatch.org.

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