Deaths and Injuries in Police Custody

[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

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.”

This is so horrible. The guy survives the accident, starts to climb out of the crashed car and gets instantly shot in the neck.

WTF?!!

What kind of police officers do they hire now? Do they get psychologocal testing before hire?

[*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.

[Jesse]

Florida Deputy Indicted for Killing Jermaine McBean
by TRACY CONNOR

A Florida deputy has been indicted for manslaughter in the shooting death of Jermaine McBean, who was killed while walking home with an unloaded pellet gun he had just bought a pawn shop.

Broward County Sheriff Peter Peraza — who was given a bravery award for the shooting by his bosses while it was still under investigation — surrendered early Friday and was expected to be released on $25,000 bond, prosecutors said. He was suspended without pay and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted...


http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...l_nbn_20151211

[Andrea]

New video reveals details in fatal shooting of Gilbert Flores by deputies in San Antonio

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/New-video-reveals-details-in-fatal-shooting-of-6692051.php

In the tense minutes before two Bexar County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot Gilbert Flores last summer, the knife-wielding man said he wanted to die and ignored orders to surrender, according to a video of the altercation released Friday by the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.

“I’m not going to prison,” Flores yelled at deputies in the first moments of a video shot by neighbors inside their house across the street.

[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.

[Andrea]

Grand jury decides against indictments in Sandra Bland case

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/21/us/sandra-bland-no-indictments/index.html

A grand jury in the case of Sandra Bland has decided not to return any indictments, according to Darrell Jordan, a special prosecutor handling the case.

Bland, an African-American woman, was found dead in her cell three days after she was arrested for allegedly failing to use her turn signal on July 10. She was 28.

Officials in Waller County, Texas, have said she hanged herself with a plastic bag. Her family and others have questioned that account.

Her case attracted widespread attention amid national discussions about excessive force and the role of race in policing.

[TruTexan]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Grand jury decides against indictments in Sandra Bland case

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/21/us/sandra-bland-no-indictments/index.html

A grand jury in the case of Sandra Bland has decided not to return any indictments, according to Darrell Jordan, a special prosecutor handling the case.

Bland, an African-American woman, was found dead in her cell three days after she was arrested for allegedly failing to use her turn signal on July 10. She was 28.

Officials in Waller County, Texas, have said she hanged herself with a plastic bag. Her family and others have questioned that account.

Her case attracted widespread attention amid national discussions about excessive force and the role of race in policing.

This was on our Dallas News Tonight at 10pm Central time. It seems they aren't done trying to get something prosecuted, but didn't say if it was the family persuing it or the prosecutor and what it entailed.
I find it hard to believe that a jailer didn't know anything about what happened in her cell. I would put money on it that there were prisoners calling for help if she was the only one involved and did it to herself.

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by 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.

LINK ~~>>>>> Mapping Police Violence


Here is some current data from the website from last year (2019):

* Police killed 1,099 people in 2019. Black people were 24% of those killed despite being only 13% of the population.

* There were only 27 days in 2019 where police did not kill someone.

* 99% of people killed by police between 2013 to 2019 have not resulted in police officers being charged with a crime. There is no accountability.

There are other interesting data sets which illustrate how people of color (Black or Brown vs White population) are affected by police violence/brutality.

Toward the bottom of the web page, there are other vital links to current news coverage pertaining to the subject of police violence, as well as a way to enter in the name of any police department to find out how they rank in police violence/brutality data. There is also a way to locate your state representative so you can add and express your concern on this vital issue.

Thanks Andrea for your post back in 2015, which cited this organization and it's ongoing mission to educate the greater public.

[A. Spectre]

The role of police needs to be redefined


For too long there has been this blanket protection for police. We've given them the benefit of the doubt, always saying it's a tough job or it's a thankless job or they are putting their lives on the line for our safety. And this is all true. But it shouldn't be used as an excuse or a shield.

Police offers choose their career. And they should be held to a higher standard. Not shielded with excuses. And if they can't live up to the higher standard, they should go find another profession. It seems in almost all cases where there is excessive force, we find out there were prior complaints. Warning signs, really.

We should hire police officers more selectively. Pay them much more. And hold them accountable. Those that show signs that the job is too much should be dismissed.

It doesn't help that MF45 is stoking the flames of a race war. (he is probably salivating at this prospect) trump wants a reason ANY reason to install martial law. Unfortunately, all of this chaos and fear he creates will benefit him in Nov.

With that said, the looting and vandalism is counter-productive. Now, we have stores that are closed, citizens losing their jobs, innocent people being injured.