Houston Police Sergeant offered job back after Killing Latino Man
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 04:19PM
TheSpook
Pedro Oregon's family shocked
A Houston police sergeant
who led the infamous, and ill-fated raid on an apartment on in
southwest Houston is getting his job back. It's been six years since
Pedro Oregon was killed during the drug raid that turned up nothing.
"It shocked me because I never thought things were going to turn out to
be this way," said Susanna Gonzalez, Oregon's sister. Strouse oversaw
six members of a gang unit who shot and killed Oregon at this southwest
side apartment complex in 1998. The officer claimed to be looking for
drugs, but found none. During the raid, shots were fired. One officer
was hit by friendly fire. Attorney Paul Nugent said Oregon was hit 12
times, including nine times in the back. "It's wrong and it's
outrageous. Pedro was murdered while he was asleep," said Nugent, the
Oregon family's attorney. Strouse was fired, but appealed. A hearing
examiner ruled there was evidence of mistakes, but said the firing was
too harsh a punishment. Strouse, the arbitrator said, should be
reinstated as an officer and given some back pay. Oregon's mother said
Strouse should not have been reinstated and fears the officer could put
others in danger. Appeals are pending for other officers involved in
that shooting. [more]
Police mistook officer's shot as hostile fire during raid, source says [more]
