HPD's Aguirre fired over raid

Houston Chronicle ^ | 1/29/03 | KRISTEN MACK

[No Truce With Kings]

HPD's Aguirre fired over raid

By KRISTEN MACK

Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

Jan. 29, 2003, 3:51PM

Houston police Capt. Mark Aguirre, commander of the controversial raid at a west-side Kmart in August, was fired this morning.

Acting Police Chief Tim Oettmeier announced Aguirre's firing during a briefing to City Council on the Kmart raids.

"What we witnessed was nothing more than the political lynching of Aguirre and they used Oettmeier as the henchman," said Aguirre's attorney, Terry Yates.

Aguirre, who had his first chance to speak out today, said the department is using him as a scapegoat and HPD is trying to paint him as a rogue.

"They treated me like a department pinata," Aguirre said. "This department is hopelessly corrupt and this is a grotesque charade posing as justice."

Aguirre, indicted on five counts of official oppression in connection with the raid, attended a hearing in Oettmeier's office Tuesday. He has been suspended since he led the raid.

The firing comes a day after Sgt. Ken Wenzel announced he would quit rather than possibly face a similar fate. Wenzel, from the South Central Patrol Division, resigned just hours before his scheduled Loudermill hearing Tuesday.

[No Truce With Kings]

What is left to say?

[No Truce With Kings]

Ping.

[No Truce With Kings]

Ping (for real. . )

[Petronski]

Fascist or fool, the city is better off without him.

[LO_IQ]

"They treated me like a department pinata," Aguirre said

Translation:

My subordinates do not support me.
My superiors do not support me
The whole world has turned against poor little me

Aguirre's reaction is more pathetic than his original misbehavior.

[Brian Mosely]

"This department is hopelessly corrupt and this is a grotesque charade posing as justice."

Yeah...well, since you were a 23 year veteran of the force like they keep saying in every article about you, you seem to have had plenty of time to do something about it...unless, of course, you were part of the problem...

[Centurion2000]

Well, next time he should look up a Constitution and check to make sure his orders comply with it.

[No Truce With Kings]

It looks like they added more text to the story. This follows the last paragraph I had:

"The Aug. 18 raid in the 8400 block of Westheimer was planned to target drag racers. When no drag racers were found, officers arrested nearly 300 people on charges of trespassing and curfew violations.

The arrests sparked a public uproar, and all the charges were dismissed and are being expunged at city expense. Several civil lawsuits have been filed against the city and police department.

"There was a blatant disregard of policy and procedures," Oettmeier said of the raids. "It's truly been a travesty and embarrassment for the entire police department."

Oettmeier also told Council that 32 officers involved in the raid will be disciplined -- ranging from demotions, suspensions and written reprimands."

[isthisnickcool]

He hung himself. Buh-bye.

[Dog Gone]

I thought I had heard this on the radio at lunchtime, but I couldn't find it on the Chronicle website.

This is, of course, great news. We have been paying this creep for five months to stay at home after what he did. My only hope is that he is held personally liable for the damages he caused that night.

I still don't think he's been charged with a serious enough offense. He's unlikely to see prison on an official oppression charge.

[No Truce With Kings]

"I thought I had heard this on the radio at lunchtime, but I couldn't find it on the Chronicle website."

The article was posted at 3:51 pm, and they added to it sometime before 5:00pm.

Probably why you did not find it. Apparently all of the other participants face disciplinary action, too. Who predicted that back in the fall? It was an attorney from CA, but I have lost track of his FR handle.

(When do you think the potty-mouth attack on this thread will start?)

[sarasmom]

One small step for sanity...

[Bob Mc]

Where are Mr. Aguirre's FreeRepublic supporters today? I know there were lots of them a few weeks back.

[SerpentDove]

Thanks for the ping!

And great news!!!

[SerpentDove]

Where's Houmatt when you need him?

[tahiti]

"My only hope is that he is held personally liable for the damages he caused that night."

Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21 (1991) — State officers may be held personally liable for damages based upon actions taken in their official capacities.

Soldal v. Cook County, 506 U.S. 56 (1992) — State or local officials who stand by or protect an unlawful eviction or seizure are liable for damages under 42 USC 1983.

I say the odds are good that Aguire could be held personally liable for damages.

[Dog Gone]

I haven't pinged him, but the fun is only beginning.

[TexRef]

When no drag racers were found, officers arrested nearly 300 people on charges of trespassing and curfew violations.

And HPD friend of mine told me that Aguirre and others actually purchased "No Trespassing" signs and hung them up by the KMart before the arrests!!!

All I can say is Good riddance!!!