HOUSTON — KHOU 11 Investigates Jeremy Rogalski, Jennifer Cobb and John Gibson have been honored again for their work looking into the Coffee City Police Department. They took top honors in the Headliners Foundation’s Showcase Awards for Enterprise and Innovation in Journalism.
Their investigation resulted in the department being shut down and charges filed against several officers, including the chief.
They found that in Coffee City, Texas, there were 50 sworn police officers in a town of about 250, and that more than half of the officers had been suspended, demoted, terminated or dishonorably discharged from their previous jobs in law enforcement.
After the stories aired, city council fired the chief who hired the officers and shut down the department. Two grand juries have indicted seven former officers, including the police chief, for tampering with government records.
Last month, KHOU 11 Investigates was honored with Poynter's Journalism Prize for their investigation into the Coffee City Police Department. It also won a prestigious IRE Award.
You can watch our investigation into Coffee City in the video player below.
KHOU 11 Investigates coverage of the Coffee City Police Department:
- This Texas town has about 250 people. It has 50 sworn police officers. | Part 1
- Caught on camera: Small-town police chief goes on tirade | Part 2
- Coffee City Police Department suspends division after KHOU 11 Investigates questioned its legality | Part 3
- Coffee City police chief suspended after KHOU 11 Investigation | Part 4
- Coffee City mayor ‘shocked’ by KHOU 11 Investigates findings over police hiring practices
- In wake of KHOU 11 Investigates reports, Coffee City fires police chief, deactivates police department
- Former Coffee City police chief faces felony charges after KHOU 11 investigation
- Another former Coffee City, Texas cop indicted after KHOU 11 investigation
- Third former Coffee City police officer indicted on tampering charges
- Former Coffee City mayor facing felony charges in ongoing investigation
- Two more former Coffee City officers indicted
- Coffee City police indictments climb to 7 former cops
- Fired and hired: KHOU 11 Investigates ‘wandering officers’ in the Houston area