HomeMy WebLinkAboutLt. Miguel Orozco (Ret. BPD)Miguel Orozco
2324 Oxford St.
Bryan, Texas 77802
Recollections from the First Hispanic police officer for City of Bryan Police
Department. Miguel (Mike) Orozco, Lieutenant Retired
Since childhood, my interests had been to become a police officer.
After serving my country in the Korean War, I returned to the Brazos Valley
And pursued my ambition.
I had always been interested in being a police officer since my childhood.
About early 1960, at the age of 28 years my opportunity was realized. A police
officer friend told me applications were being considered for police officers. I
applied and after several months of background investigation, checks and
interviews. I was accepted 10-15-60 as a Bryan Police Officer. I started as a
patrolman. I had to buy my own police equipment, uniform and all accessories. I
was the first Hispanic police officer in Bryan, Texas History. There were a lot of
things different at the time. For example there was only one black officer and was
not allowed to neither write tickets nor stop white citizens. In contrast I was
allowed to do all the duties as all other Anglo officers. Even though, I was a
bonifide police officer there were some older white citizens unfamiliar and
sometimes resentful about being stop by a Hispanic officer, which was new to them.
I understood their feeling and tried to let their feelings be stated. I had many funny
encounters in this respect, but I remember one incident in particular. I was on
patrol about 28th Street and Main when I observe an older white gentleman driving
a pickup truck fail to stop for a red traffic light. I immediately stop him with red
light on the marked patrol car. I made contact with the gentleman who appeared
confused. I was amused, because I had and idea why he appeared confused. I
asked for his driver's license and told him why he was stopped and he agreed. I
issued him a citation, asked him to sign it and see our city Judge within ten days.
This is when I thought was funny; He looked at me very preoccupied and stated, is
this a real ticket? And, are you supposed to stop me? After I acknowledge, yes to
both his question. He stated, But aren't you a Mexican? I stated yes, He looked at
me and stated he thought Mexican Police Officers were not supposed to stop white
citizens. I told him, no one had advised me to that, and I bid him a good day and
went to my patrol car. I understood his feelings, but never had any problems, I only
thought it amusing. Later in my career about May 1965 I was promoted to the rank
of Sergeant, and much later in 1970 I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
I maintained the rank of Lieutenant until my retirement from Bryan Police
Department in 1993 after 33 years of service. During my police career the City of
Bryan grew from 15,000 thousand populations in 1960 to over 53,000 thousand in
1993. My Police career was pleasant and very rewarding, I made many friends,
especially in the growing Hispanic community. My Motto for my successful career
was "TREAT EVERYONE AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED
UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES" ALWAYS BE FAIR, BUT FIRM.
Miguel (Mike) Orozco