Deaths and Injuries in Police Custody

[Blade]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Hundreds protest as Chicago releases video of cop shooting teen 16 times

http://www.abc10.com/story/news/2015/11/24/chicago-cop-charged-shooting-black-teen-16-times/76303768/

Hundreds of protesters chanting "16 shots" wove their way through downtown streets Tuesday night after the city released a dramatic video showing a white police officer firing a fatal barrage of 16 bullets at a black teenager.

#Laquan McDonald

It's my understanding that this happened over a year ago. I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about it at that time. I did see the video this morning which stopped just as the first shot was fired. So that is all I saw and needed to see of it. I don't see where there was a need for a first shot let alone 16 shots. The young man wasn't even close to him, nor was he behaving in a threatening manner IMO. I don't know where all of the trigger happy police have come from, or are we just hearing more about these things due to social media?

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Blade

It's my understanding that this happened over a year ago. I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about it at that time. I did see the video this morning which stopped just as the first shot was fired. So that is all I saw and needed to see of it. I don't see where there was a need for a first shot let alone 16 shots. The young man wasn't even close to him, nor was he behaving in a threatening manner IMO. I don't know where all of the trigger happy police have come from, or are we just hearing more about these things due to social media?

I believe this is an ongoing issue and we are hearing about it because of the use of video cameras and social media, as well as people speaking out about it in spite of fear of retribution.

[Andrea]

Department Of Justice To Investigate Chicago Police: Report

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/doj-investigation-chicago-police_5664a222e4b08e945fefdddf?ncid=tweetlnkushpm g00000067

The Department of Justice will open an investigation into potential civil rights violations by the Chicago Police Department, The Washington Post first reported Sunday.

Full details of the probe are expected to be announced later this week.

[Andrea]

Head of Chicago's Independent Police Review Authority Resigns

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Head-of-Chicagos-Independent-Police-Review-Authority-Resigns-360742831.html?cid=sm_tw&hootPostID=33b54ac543c192 bd10623fa9ed8b4dfb

With an impending investigation of the Chicago Police Department by the U.S. Department of Justice, the head of the Independent Police Review Authority Scott Ando resigned Sunday evening, effective immediately.

[Andrea]

King: As Chicago pledges more transparency, video of cop killing unarmed teen Cedrick Chatman in 2013 still not released

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-chicago-hasn-released-2013-video-killing-teen-article-1.2461458?cid=bitly

Thirty-five months ago, the Chicago police shot and killed unarmed 17-year-old Cedrick Chatman on a sunny afternoon.

As many as five different cameras filmed his death.

At the time, Lorenzo Davis, a black man who was a retired captain for the Chicago Police Department, was heading up the review board which investigated police shootings. His investigation determined that the shooting of Cedrick Chatman was unjustified and that the officer who shot and killed Chatman should be indicted. As revered as he was, Lorenzo Davis was fired for refusing to change his findings.

To this day, the city has refused to release the video of Cedrick's murder and no charges have been filed against the officer who shot and killed him. This makes the ridiculous 400-day wait to press charges against the officer who killed McDonald look short.

The officer who fatally shot Chatman said that while Cedrick was running from police, he turned around and pointed what looked like a gun at him. The thing is, Cedrick was unarmed.

Not only that, but three people who've actually seen the videos all say that in addition to Cedrick Chatman being unarmed, he did not turn around and point anything at police. Those three people who've seen the video, retired Chicago Police Captain Lorenzo Davis, an unnamed investigator hired by the city to determine if charges should be filed, and the attorney for the Chatman family, all tell the exact same story.

[Andrea]

Ex-Oklahoma City cop Daniel Holtzclaw cries after jury convicts him of rape

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/us/oklahoma-daniel-holtzclaw-verdict/index.html

For about six months, Daniel Holtzclaw preyed on women in one of Oklahoma's poorest neighborhoods, exploiting his police badge to intimidate them into keeping quiet.

[Andrea]

DA plays dash cam video in accidental shooting; no charges will be filed

http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/da-plays-dash-cam-video-in-accidental-shooting-no-charges-will-be-filed/

Bolding mine

The Paradise police officer who investigators say accidentally shot a suspected DUI driver in the neck last month will not face criminal charges, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey announced Thursday.

Ramsey said the evidence in this case shows the shooting to be accidental, and possibly negligent, but not criminally so. “This shooting is not justified, but also not criminal."

Paradise Police Officer Patrick Feaster, a five year veteran of the department, was parked on the Skyway around midnight Thanksgiving morning, when he saw a Toyota Four-Runner speeding out of the Canteena Bar parking lot without headlights on.

Feaster followed in his patrol car, as the Toyota ran a red light and turned onto Pearson Road where the driver, 26-year-old Andrew Thomas struck the median and flipped, ejecting his 23-year-old wife Darien Ehorn from the vehicle. Ehorn was killed in the crash.

Ramsey said Feaster drew his gun when Thomas “popped” out of the car, believing he would flee. As Officer Feaster moved towards Thomas, the gun discharged and struck Thomas in the neck. The shot hit Thomas in the C7 and T1 vertebrae and could lead to him being paralyzed for life.

When backup arrived on the scene, Feaster did not mention anything about having fired his weapon. According to Ramsey, Feaster notified his commanding officer about the discharge only after Thomas’ gunshot wound was found.

As the commanding officer suggested an investigator return to Canteena and try to find out if Thomas had been shot at the bar, Feaster revealed that he may have shot Thomas.

Ramsey said nearly 11 minutes passed before any other officers, medics or firefighters learned Thomas had been shot.

According to Ramsey, several factors led investigators to believe the shooting was accidental. “The dash cam video shows Officer Feaster was not prepared for and was surprised by the guns firing. The pistol discharges in mid-stride and the officer both flinches his head to the right and does a stutter step indicative of an officer not prepared for nor intentionally firing his pistol. Additionally, officers normally train to fire a minimum of two shots. There was no second shot and the officer immediately holstered his weapon after the discharge.”

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Ex-Oklahoma City cop Daniel Holtzclaw cries after jury convicts him of rape

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/us/oklahoma-daniel-holtzclaw-verdict/index.html

For about six months, Daniel Holtzclaw preyed on women in one of Oklahoma's poorest neighborhoods, exploiting his police badge to intimidate them into keeping quiet.

Boo hoo.

I wonder if the tears of all of his victims moved him?

I am so over these trigger-happy, rapist, murdering cops.

[Okiebug61]

We have to be careful not to stereotype police officers. While there are many that take advantage of the citizens they have sworn to protect. There are many more that do their job and put their lives on the line for us every time they step out wearing their uniform.

I am glad the bad apples are being brought to lite and I am thankful we are seeing the people's voices being heard. I hope this trend continues and I hope our communities look to working together with our police officers to form a safe environment for all citizens.

[Andrea]

Mapping Police Violence

http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/2015

Police killed at least 1,152 people in the United States from January 1 - December 15, 2015. Nearly one in four of these people was killed by one of America's largest 60 city police departments.