HOUSTON — A new, two-part documentary is telling the story of a first-of-its-kind law enforcement group born within the Houston Police Department known as the Chicano Squad.
The documentary discusses the Chicano Squad's lasting legacy in the city and policing.
The Chicano Squad was formed in 1979 as homicides and tensions between the public and the police reached a boiling point. The department tapped Hispanic officers to try to build stronger relationships with the Spanish-speaking community in Houston and to solve murders.
“The amount of attention that we've gotten is not something that we expected but it's really rewarding to us,” U.P. Hernandez, one of the original Chicano Squad members told KHOU 11 News in an interview.
The new documentary has garnered the group a renewed spotlight.
“Now looking at this documentary, I look back and say, ‘Man, we did do a good job and we did a lot of work,’” José Selvera, an original squad member said.
Selvera, Hernandez and Cecil Mosqueda sat down with KHOU 11 News, along with Sergio Selvera – the son of Selvera and an executive producer on the documentary.
Also part of the original squad were James “Jim” Montero, Raymond Gonzales and Robert Gatewood.
“On this documentary, you had Latino talent, Latino producers, a Latino director, a Latino executive at A&E, that doesn't happen a lot,” Sergio Selvera said. “But that was the persistence of pushing this story, saying, ‘Hey, this is an American story that needs to be told.’”
That American story follows the trail-blazing efforts of the Chicano Squad, which began as a 90-day pilot program.
“There was pressure because they wanted everyone to know if we were capable doing this job,” José Selvera said. “We had, in 90 days, cleared 40 murder cases that were sitting in file, basically was about an 80% clearance rate, it's unheard of.”
The squad’s success left a lasting legacy as police departments strengthened diversity, recruiting and community policing.
“We built that trust with them,” Mosqueda said. “I really believe that that they know that we were out there to help them.”
Along with the squad’s formation, the documentary follows the toll the job took on the officers, who often found strength in each other.
“We're like a band of brothers, we stuck together, we did everything together,” Hernandez said.
The squad received recognition at Houston City Hall and at HPD, but they hope the documentary’s look at Houston’s past can illuminate the city’s future.
“It's something positive for the community,” José Selvera said. “I hope we continue to be a positive community because there's a lot of Mexicanitos out there and Chicanitos, whether they want to call themselves, Latinos, that it gives them hope that, ‘Yeah, you can do it. You can do it. Si se puede.’”
‘The Chicano Squad’ premieres Monday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. with the second part premiering Tuesday, Sept. 3.