Plot Synopsis

Directed by showrunner Mario Diaz, THE CHICANO SQUAD is a four-hour documentary that chronicles a groundbreaking team of bilingual patrol officers plucked from their beats and suddenly promoted to Detectives to form the first all-Latin homicide unit dedicated to tackling Houston's soaring rate of Latin homicide cases in 1979. Decades of disregard and corruption inside the Houston Police Department led to widespread police brutality and hundreds of unsolved homicides in the city's Latin neighborhoods. One officer -- Jim Montero -- has a vision to form a unit uniquely designed to solve them. In 1979, Montero and five bilingual Mexican American department rookies were given just 90 days to solve all open Latin murder cases, regain the trust of the community, and assist in any new crimes involving Spanish-speaking people. With no prior homicide experience, unchecked racism and discrimination at all levels of the department, a corrupt police union, the highest crime rate in the country, and an immigrant community that is distrustful of the police, this first-of-its-kind unit of crime fighters lacked experience in homicide investigation and were forced to learn on the job. After 90 days, The Chicano Squad members ultimately proved they belonged and successfully cleared 80% of their cases. Dubbed "The Chicano Squad" by the Houston media, the story of these men who for the next three decades would earn the trust of the community and the department, becoming one of the most highly decorated law enforcement units in the history of Houston, is told through first-hand accounts of the original squad members and those impacted by their work. Featuring new interviews with original members of the group, including Jim Montero, Jose Selvera, Raymond Gonzales, U.P. Hernandez, and Cecil Mosqueda, THE CHICANO SQUAD explores how these men revolutionized community policing and went on to be an integral division in the Houston Police Department for decades, serving as the inspiration for other squads around the country. Forty-five years after the formation of the Chicano Squad, the two-night event series debuted from 9-11pm ET/PT on A&E on consecutive nights, beginning Monday, September 2, 2024:

Part 1 (Monday, September 2, 2024 from 9-11pm ET/PT): In 1979, Houston's Latin community was plagued by police violence and a rising murder rate. It was in this climate that six officers were selected to form an all-Latin homicide unit. Their mission: solve all open Latin murder cases in just 90 days.

Part 2 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024 from 9-11pm ET/PT): After a 90-day trial by fire, The Chicano Squad is here to stay. But their progress is now under threat with the arrival of Colombian drug cartels, who have unleashed a wave of violence that has earned Houston the title "Murder Capital of the US."