Hate crime attack outside Old Plantation gay nightclub engenders criticism of El Paso Police Department

Monique Griego, of El Paso's NBC affiliate Channel 9: "So far, police say they have no evidence to call the attack a hate crime. Martinez calls that ridiculous..."

Commenters to KTSM's story about this incident (a 6-on-1 baseball bat attack that left the victim unconscious and in critical condition) have showed the El Paso Police Department very little love, apparently because a) this sort of thing has happened before, b) because El Paso police haven't distinguished themselves with their aggressiveness in pursuing the perps, and c) because there is a cop shop literally one block away. To whit:

That was horrible, I had witnessed it, It is the same group of gang members that pick on people of the gay community, countless stabbings and beatings, but now El Paso PD wants to do something after all the incidents.There is literally a precint and a Jail right next to this place, if they would have had someone patrol the area once in a while this could have been prevented.

Google Maps shows proximity of police station
to site of repeated unsolved gay bashings in El Paso

This happened to my son a week ago at the same location, fortunately he wasn't hurt as bad as Mr. Martinez. The police took over 30 minutes to arrive. They told him the same thing, not a hate crime. My son is gay.

this happened to my younger sister.. 6 cholos jumped her n hit her with beer bottles. cops said not a hate crime. tried pressing charges and still after a yr NOTHING HAS HAPPEND. EPPD needs to get it together and defend el pasoans !!