Hector Polanco was a legend—in more ways than one. He joined the Austin Police Department in 1976 and spent years as a patrolman before becoming a homicide cop. Polanco was handsome and charismatic and often found himself in the pages of the Austin American-Statesman—nabbing bad guys, rescuing infants, and, in January 1978, five weeks after University of Texas running back Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, writing him a warning ticket for speeding. By August 1991, Polanco had worked himself up to being a supervisor in the homicide division, with 45 commendations over his long career and a reputation as a top-notch investigator.But Polanco received complaints too, including eight that made it through official channels, of which he was later cleared: five for excessive force,…
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