The family sent a letter to several media sources that was directed at district attorney Jaime Esparza and trial division chief Lori Hughes. It is the first time the family releases a statement to the media demanding something be done about Andy's case. I am glad to see that they are breaking their silence and are aggressively seeking justice. Below is the letter in its entirety.
Ms. Hughes and/or Mr. Esparza,
I just read in the El Paso Times and other local news media articles that Officer Jorge Gonzalez shot at another unarmed person whom he "claimed" again was trying to run him over. After reading articles, it appears Mr. Gonzales missed his intended target. As you well know, on April 1st, 2010 Officer Gonzales used a similar justification for shooting at an unarmed civilian, Andres Cortez, he did not miss and rendered him a quadraplegic. Whether or not Officer Gonzalez' latest shooting was justified it is clear he is a dangerous trigger-happy officer who has serious anger issues. More than eleven months have passed since our Andres was shot after a fender bender and the criminal investigation of Gonzalez' conduct appears to be at a standstill. The evidence is yet to be presented to the Grand Jury.
Furthermore, with this new incident, it is apparent that the DA needs to push for an independent agency (i.e. FBI and/or Texas Rangers) to come in and conduct a separate inquiry on Officer Gonzalez in both Andres' case and the new incident. We feel it is pertinent to get a separate entity involved to investigate with no ties to El Paso PD. Officer Gonzales continues to use unreasonableexcessive force and engage in a pattern (practice) that deprives persons of rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. (Title 42, U.S.C., Section 14141)-- a pattern typical of color of law abuse.
Andres, his family, and the community of El Paso are entitled to know why The El Paso District attorney's office has taken so much time to conduct the investigation and when the DA's offfice plans to move forward with this matter. We look forward to your response. We demand Justice for Andy!!!
Sincerely,
Family of Andres Cortez
Eleven months ago I held Andy's hand in the hospital and promised him that I would do what ever it took to get him justice. In less than one month it will be one year since he was shot at the McDonald's on Yarbrough and Gateway West. Time flies, people forget and move on with their lives and cases are buried under tons of paperwork. I told Andy and his family that we couldn't let people forget about what happened because if they did then his chances of getting justice would be slim to none. And like I told his family, if we didn't put a stop to Officer Gonzalez he would shoot someone else. I hate being right. I ask that all of you who read this help us in our fight to remove Officer Jorge Gonzalez from the El Paso Police Department. He is a danger to society and needs to be taken off the street.
My heart goes out to your family and to Andy I know how it feels to be wronged shot and charged by eppd and I'm glad someones taking a stand trust in God for results and answers its happened too many times that people are injured and families torn apart due to a OFFICER not be able to admit he or she is wrong or made a mistake they are supposed to be our examples instead they are no better then the common criminal not all eppd but a lot of them thank you to all the honest officers out there but plz take a stand when you know there is wrong doing families are being torn apart lives ruined
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