Pubdate: Sat, 7 Nov 1998
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/ 
Copyright: 1998 Houston Chronicle
Author: T. Brooks Taylor III, Houston

OREGON'S HOME INVADED

In Joe S. Price's Nov. 4 Viewpoints letter ("HPD steps out in Oregon
death"), he states he does "not want to uphold the Houston Police
Department officers in the Pedro Oregon Navarro shooting," then
proceeds to uphold them.

The last time I checked, a citizen ("criminal," according to Price)
has the right to defend his home from invasion by any means necessary.

Unless a police officer is in hot pursuit, a search warrant is
required by law. If Houston Police Department officers plan an
invasion, they are required by department policy to inform their
superiors. Neither was done.

I understand that a police officer cannot "wait" to be shot at before
shooting and I also understand why an officer would fire a weapon
repeatedly to make sure any threat is nullified. But reloading and
continuing to fire at a corpse goes beyond the pale. Oregon was not
the criminal; although I suspect there were criminals in his home that
night.

T. Brooks Taylor III, Houston

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Checked-by: Rich O'Grady