Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1998 Houston Chronicle Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Author: Julie Mason MAYOR'S DISTANCE FROM OREGON ISSUE RAISING QUESTIONS Amid the fallout from a grand jury decision in the death of Pedro Oregon Navarro, Mayor Lee Brown is receiving mixed reviews from other city officials for his leadership during the past several days. While the rhetoric following the grand jury decision did not escalate to violence as some feared, critics questioned why Brown appeared slow to respond or take charge on an issue so potentially divisive for the city. "The mayor should be the father figure for this city," said Councilman John Castillo. "There could have been a potential for disruption, and I think he had an obligation to take a more aggressive and public role in providing comfort to the community which, by and large, seems to be hurt by what has happened." A Harris County grand jury on Monday cleared six police officers involved in the death of Oregon, 22, indicting only one on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass. The officers had burst into Oregon's apartment without a warrant and shot him July 12. Although several officials offered a similar description of what Brown's responsibilities are as city leader in such times, opinions were divided on whether Brown fulfilled his obligations. "I think his responsibilities were to be aware of the concerns in the community in such a high profile incident, to stay in contact with the affected community and do his best to see that tensions were defused," said Councilwoman Annise Parker. "I think he fulfilled them." However, Parker -- who previously served on the Police Advisory Committee and the Citizen Review Committee for the Houston Police Department -- said Brown may have been experiencing divided loyalties as former chief of police and a longtime law enforcement professional. "I am sure it had to be difficult, he is very identified with HPD," Parker said. "I think that when something like this happens, it's a reflection on all of us. I think we all had feelings of outrage and anger that it happened, but he must have had some divided loyalties." On Monday, the day the grand jury returned its findings, numerous civic leaders rushed to denounce the decision and to urge calm in the community. City Council members immediately drafted a letter to federal justice officials, calling for an investigation. Brown, meanwhile, had already gone home by the time his office released a brief written statement after 6:30 p.m., requesting an FBI inquiry into Oregon's killing. On Tuesday, Brown remained largely in the background, reiterating his statement from the day before and sticking to his schedule, including a lunch with the Houston Restaurant Association. Several members of City Council called a press conference to detail their call for a federal investigation. At that event, Councilman Orlando Sanchez noted Brown's reticence in showing leadership on the issue - leading to an angry phone call from the mayor for what Brown considered a cheap shot. For a mayor who recently convened a "Unity Breakfast" with Hispanic officials and has otherwise tried to build bridges with that community, the omission for some began to appear strange. "It's been apparent to me that he has been pretty reserved about it all," said Councilman Rob Todd. "I think he has a responsibility, and that is to urge calm and to urge people to trust their government." Brown was trumped on Tuesday when U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, met with the Oregon family and appeared on the evening news, surrounded by the family members and speaking with the U.S. Department of Justice on her cellular phone. Brown was to have met with the family that evening, but the event was canceled when one of the members fell ill. Brown instead commended community leaders in the Gulfton area, where many Hispanics live, and said his staff had been active there. By Wednesday the mayor's relative invisibility on the issue was becoming a topic of conversation at City Hall. After two days of obscurity, Brown's staff drafted an impassioned statement on the Oregon case that the mayor delivered during a council meeting. "This case has anguished many people in our city. Many people are dismayed, even angry over what, to them, is an apparent miscarriage of justice," Brown said. "I understand why they are angry. They want to know the truth." Later in the day, Brown attended a session in a nearby park with Hispanic and other community leaders, aimed at reassuring residents and continuing to call for peaceful discourse. His staff called the mayor's efforts a success. "The mayor showed tremendous leadership in dealing with a very difficult situation," said Jay Aiyer, Brown's chief of staff. "Through his own action, he set an example for the rest of us in terms of understanding and respecting the process." Aiyer contended that Brown's low-key approach to the situation showed restrained dignity. "The easy thing to do would be to grandstand or exploit the issue," Aiyer said. "He clearly did not do that." Controller Sylvia Garcia, who lent her support to the council members asking for a federal investigation, added her praise to Brown's handling of the city in the wake of the Oregon case. "I think the mayor acted very responsibly in asking for the Justice Department review," Garcia said. "I think with his background, he deserves a lot of credit for the level of professionalism we have at HPD." Garcia, who on Friday attended an event honoring Hispanic police officers, called the Oregon incident an "aberration." Harris County Constable Victor Trevino said the best thing city officials can do now is be truthful and honest in disclosing all of the facts in the case. "It's not just about loyalty, you have to stand on the side of truth," Trevino said. "The public wants to know what happened, and I think government is wrong when it starts being secretive. They keep telling us to wait on judgment until we know the truth. When are we going to know?" - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry