Febman-
londay, February 5, 2001
STATE
THE BATTALION
Page 5
University peace officers’
dismissal linked to politics
HOUSTON (AP) — Licensed negative publicity while a police cident in late 1998 when Michael
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oeace officers could face conflict
when politics and the law clash at
universities, some law enforcement
experts say in the wake of two Texas
incidents.
Texas Southern University (TSU)
police chief Cordell Lindsey was
fired 10 days ago. He says it was be
cause he refused to back off an in
vestigation into the theft of $4,000 in
university funds.
George Hess was dismissed last
: year as police chief at the Universi
ty of Houston (UH). The reason, he
claims: He disobeyed a demand
Ifrom the university administration
not to pursue charges against a foot
ball player who committed a felony
: on campus.
In both cases, the universities
ideny trying to stop the chiefs from
doing their jobs and cite other rea-
isons — insubordination or restruc
turing of university positions among
them — for their termination.
But several law enforcement of-
■ficials interviewed in a copyright
l story in Sunday’s editions of the
Houston Chronicle say the two cas-
' es spotlight an inherent weakness in
a state law allowing universities and
I school districts to maintain their
own fully licensed and accredited
police forces.
A university might want to deal
with a crime “in-house” and bypass
chief believes it should be investi
gated and prosecuted, the experts say.
“These are certified peace officers
who have no choice about whether to
investigate a crime or not. If the uni-
u
They can be
terminated for doing
their jobs and
enforcing the law.
Welcome to Texas.”
— Charlie Wilkison
Combined Law Enforcement
Associations of Texas
versity fires them for doing so, they
have no rights,” said Charlie Wilki
son, the political and legislative direc
tor for Combined Law Enforcement
Associations of Texas (CLEAT), or
CLEAT, a police labor advocacy or
ganization. “They can be terminated
for doing their jobs and enforcing the
law. Welcome to Texas.”
Wilkison said conflicts like Hess
and Lindsey faced are rare but that
people like them have limited re
course: appeal their firing to the
school — as allowed by state law
— or seek reinstatement through a
civil lawsuit.
Hess’ firing stemmed from an in-
DeRouselle, a starting defensive line
man who was already on probation
for a previous felony, forged a uni
versity document.
The incident was not reported to
the campus police, and Hess found
out about nine months later.
Despite an administrative order
against it, Hess took the case to the
Harris County district attorney’s of
fice, insisting it was his duty as a po
lice officer.
DeRouselle eventually was sen
tenced to four years in the state pen
itentiary. Hess was fired last July af
ter he told an UH staff meeting that
the administration had tried to cover
up the incident.
Lindsey said the investigation he
maintains led to his Jan. 26 firing
pointed to Tiffany Thompson, TSU’s
special events director. Lindsey al
leges that Thompson made a false
burglary report last September to
cover up the theft of $4,000, pro
ceeds from a concert.
In both cases, said Harry Cald
well, a former chief of the Houston
Police Department, the officers were
required by state law to do what they
did, even if it meant losing their jobs.
“There are absolutely no cir
cumstances in which certified law
enforcement officers should be
subordinate to the administration,”
Caldwell said.
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Hunting amendment proposed
Opponents contend existing statute is sufficient protection
DALLAS (AP) — Fears of diminishing freedoms for
Texans who hunt and fish are fueling a lawmaker’s push
for a constitutional amendment to ensure their rights.
Texas law currently permits hunting and fishing. But
some hunting proponents contend that because laws are
subject to change, a constitutional amendment is needed
to ensure hunting and fishing rights in the face of an in
creasingly urban population and growing pressure from
animal rights groups.
“We are no longer a small rural state. We are a major
industrial state,” said state Rep. Barry Telford, D-DeKalb,
who is sponsoring the joint resolution.
“A lot of the activities and beliefs and whatnot that we
grew up understanding and approving of... the urban and
suburban culture many times has not placed the same val
ue on such things,” he said.
Some animal rights activists, Telford added, “are per
fectly willing to tie themselves to trees to keep people
from shooting a deer” and would love to ban hunting.
Opponents dismiss the amendment as an unnecessary
extension of the already lengthy Texas Constitution,
which they say is cheapened by such measures.
“Should the Texas Constitution be reduced to a bill
board for every special interest in Texas?” asked Wayne
Pacelle, senior vice president of the Humane Society
of the United States in Washington, D.C. “It’s just an
attempt by a small segment of the hunting lobby to beat
its chest and to really mount a political trophy within
the state constitution.”
An amendment, opponents said, may make it easier
for hunters to overrule local ordinances under the guise
of constitutional protections.
Randy Turner, a Fort Worth lawyer who said he plans
to raise money to fight the amendment, said it is expensive
to amend the constitution — and in this case, redundant.
“Should we pass a constitutional amendment to say
everyone has the right to go bowling?” he asked. “Why
spend all that money to give people a right they already
have?”
Fort Worth hunter Dave Fulson, 41, agreed that the
proposed amendment would reiterate an existing right.
But he supports the measure because he is concerned that
laws restricting hunting may stiffen.
“I am concerned at any point where an uninformed
metropolitan vote overcomes sound wildlife and conser
vation practices,” said Fulson, who hunts predators such
as coyotes and bobcats.
“NASA doesn’t take a vote on how the rockets are
built from an uninformed public,” he said.
Experts on both sides agree that common hunting and
fishing rights currently are not threatened. Disagreement
erupts over whether that will last.
Pacelle said his organization wants to stop “inhumane
and unsportsmanlike” hunting, but not ban the sport en
tirely. The Humane Society specifically opposes using
steel-jawed leghold traps for fur, as well as canned hunt
ing, a practice where hunters pay a fee to shoot exotic
mammals within fenced enclosures.
If Texas lawmakers adopt the resolution, voters still
must approve it in a referendum.
Should that happen, the state would follow at least two
others — North Dakota and Virginia — that have passed
similar measures recently. Other states, including Arizona
and Alaska, have tried and failed to pass such measures.
Crosby woman in
serious condition
from meningitis
BAYTOWN (AP) — A Crosby
woman was reported in serious
condition in a Baytown hospital,
two days after being admitted with
a presumptive case of meningitis,
a hospital official said.
The 18-year-old woman was
brought into the emergency room
at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital
— News in Brief —
on Saturday while the facility was
giving vaccines for the infection.
Cases of presumptive menin
gitis exhibit the early symptoms
of meningitis, including fever,
headache, stiff neck, nausea and
vomiting.
Accused kidnapper
flees to Mexico
with two victims
EULESS (AP) — The man ac
cused of abducting a suburban
Fort Worth mother and toddler has
fled to Mexico with the two, au
thorities said Saturday.
U.S. Customs officials said
they have determined that Delfi-
no Romero crossed the border
at Eagle Pass Thursday morn
ing with his 17-year-old ex-girl-
friend Candida Chavira and
their 2-year-old daughter,
Alyssa, intending to catch a bus
to Durango.
Authorities said neither the
woman nor the child has been
harmed.
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2001-2002 UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH FELLOWS PROGRAM
CALL FOR STUDENT RESEARCH PROPOSALS
Outstanding juniors who will have completed nine hours of honors coursework before the fall semester
and who have at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 are invited to apply for participation in the
University Undergraduate Research Fellows Program during their senior year. The Fellows Program
offers a two-semester independent research experience that culminates in a senior honors thesis. It is the
most prestigious research opportunity available to undergraduates at Texas A&M and provides
participants with opportunities usually extended only to students pursuing graduate degrees. Over the last
several years, 40 to 70 students have been selected annually as Fellows based upon faculty review of
research proposals submitted to the University Honors Program. The Fellows Program features a close,
master-apprentice relationship between student researcher and faculty advisor and involves both students
and advisors in periodic interdisciplinary group meetings to encourage the development of a scholarly
community.
Faculty acquainted with capable juniors who meet the criteria for participation in the Undergraduate
Fellows Program may wish to encourage them to consider preparing a proposal. An informational meet
ing concerning the 2001-2002 Fellows Program, open to faculty as well as students, has been scheduled
for 4:00 PM on Thursday, 15 February, in 292B MSC. Research proposals will be due on Thursday, 22
March. Students will know whether they have been admitted to the program in early April. For
additional information, contact Dr. Donald R. Dickson, Fellows Coordinator, d-dickson@tamu.edu or
visit the Honors website at http://honors.tamu.edu.
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