State Rep. Borris Miles Wants to Increase Penalties for “Rogue Cops” April 12, 2011

The videotaped police beating of Chad Holley, a teenage burglary suspect, has led to changes in the City of Houston and could soon shakeup police penalties across the state.

State Representative Borris Miles has introduced a bill that enhances  the penalty for official oppression for law enforcement officers from a  misdemeanor to a felony depending on the severity of injuries to a victim.

On Wednesday, Rep. Miles laid out House Bill 1471 in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. He released a statement to the media.

“I was shocked when the rogue police officers who beat Chad Holley were only charged with a misdemeanor,” said Rep. Miles.  “HB 1471 gives prosecutors a valuable tool they need to go after police officers who abuse their position.” 

 Dr. D.Z. Cofield, president of the Houston NAACP, Dean James Douglas from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Professor Dwight Watson from Texas State University, and Kevin Petroff of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office traveled to Austin to testify on behalf of the bill.

According to a statement released by the legislator’s office, currently, the penalty for official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor.  HB 1471 enhances the penalty for official oppression to a third degree felony if a law enforcement officer causes bodily injury and to a second degree felony if the public servant causes a serious bodily injury.

 ”As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the pressure and high emotions that can occur on the job and believe the vast majority of Houston police officers are professionals,” said Rep. Miles.  “However, when rogue cops get out of control and abuse the civil rights of a teenage boy, we must make sure that the punishment fits the crime and toughening the penalty for official oppression will do just that.”

HB 1471 is part of a package of bills that Rep. Miles has filed in response to the Chad Holley beating last year.  Rep. Miles also filed HB 3357 which would create a Houston Citizens Police Review Board. The review board will have the power to investigate acts of police misconduct and recommend action throughout the state. Finally, Rep. Miles authored HB 1472 that will make sure records of all complaints against individual police officers are retained so that in an incident like this one, citizens can know the complete history of complaints lodged by citizens against a particular officer.

State Rep. Borris Miles Reacts to Tape of Police Beating February 3, 2011

By now you have probably seen the videotape: Several Houston police officers kicking and punching teenager Chad Holley. Holley was a suspect in a series of home burglaries last summer when he ran from Houston police when they tried to arrest him. The tape shows Holley as he lies on the ground and does not appear to resist officers who continue to kick him, as it appears on the tape. State Representative Borris Miles issued this statement: “

”I am deeply concerned about the increased number of civil rights violations at the hands of the Houston Police Department. There can be no tolerance for the violation of our communities civil rights no matter what laws they may have violated.  As a former law enforcement officer, I believe that the Chad Holley tape represents more than misconduct, rather it represents a blatant abuse of power and excessive force from those Houston Police officer’s. The release of the Chad Holley tape identifies a greater problem within the Houston Police Department, a problem that requires immediate action.  I have been in communication with Attorney General Eric Holder’s office requesting intercession in this case and urge federal elected officials to join me in bringing justice to Chad Holley. Nothing less than the termination of the officer’s involved in this matter will be acceptable.  This incident is unconscionable and while I am calling for the removal of the officer’s involved, I want to be clear, this is in no way an indictment on the Houston Police Department or the officers that were not involved in this incident, however we must stop these senseless acts by a few rouge cops.”

 Meanwhile Mayor Annise Parker denied Thursday that she  tried to prevent the public from seeing the tape.  “We have never said that the public shouldn’t see this video,” said Mayor Parker.  “We simply said that we thought the most appropriate place that they see it the first time would be in a court of law when these officers are brought to justice. The frustration is that by the release of this video, it has the strong possibility of causing their trials to be moved out of Harris County.