Keith Olbermann
2014-04-19 05:31:31 UTC
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that
Albuquerque police had committed civil rights violations by
engaging in a widespread pattern of excessive and deadly force
during encounters with civilians who posed little if any threat.
The findings of the federal probe of the Albuquerque Police
Department, made public during a news conference at 10 a.m. MDT,
were the result of a 16-month civil rights investigation into
the department's high rate of police shootings, and accusations
that officers too often resorted to force.
Specifically, the Justice Department found that police used
deadly and less than lethal force on people who posed only a
minimal threat, and that officers' conduct often made volatile
situations worse. The report also concluded that encounters
between police and people suffering from mental illness too
frequently ended in violence.
"What we found is a pattern and practice of systemic
deficiencies that have pervaded the Albuquerque police
department for many years and need to be addressed," said
Jocelyn Samuels, acting assistant attorney general for civil
rights.
Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry said the report revealed some
"difficult findings," but that he believed the Justice
Department's recommendations could successfully take hold. And
he said that he remained confident in the majority of
Albuquerque police's officers.
"We know there are more changes to make than frankly I realized
before this report came out," Mr. Berry said.
Police Chief Gorden Eden said that he and his command staff
planned to meet with Justice Department officials late Thursday
to further understand how reforms proposed by the Justice
Department could be implemented.
"I believe the first place to start is with the top. And that
begins with myself and leadership in the APD," Chief Eden said.
The investigation follows a spate of fatal police shootings in
Albuquerque in recent yearsincluding the killing of a mentally
ill homeless man by officers last monthwhich have inflamed
tensions between community members and the police.
For several years now, Albuquerque police have faced mounting
criticism from city officials and advocacy groups for being too
quick to use lethal force during arrests of unarmed citizens.
Since 2010, officers here have been involved in 37 shootings,
more than half of them fatalunusually high numbers for a city
of about 550,000.
In 2010, for example, there were nine fatal police shootings in
Albuquerque. New York City, Houston and Dallas, all considerably
larger cities, each had eight that year, according to data
provided by the New York City Police Department.
Thursday's Justice Department report offered a litany of
recommendations, including a review of the department's use of
force protocol, training policies and how officers interact with
mentally ill individuals.
"We hope that these issues can be resolved by voluntary
agreement," Ms. Samuels said, noting that the plan was to put in
place a federal monitor to oversee the reforms. She called the
report "deeply troubling."
Police officials here have vowed to improve the department.
Several reforms, like requiring officers to record all
interactions with residents with lapel cameras, have already
been implemented.
But anger boiled over in recent weeks after James Boyd, a
troubled homeless man who was illegally camping in the foothills
around Albuquerque, was fatally shot after a standoff with
police.
A video camera, attached to an officer's helmet, showed police
firing at Mr. Boyd after he appeared to be turning and walking
away. Police said he had brandished two knives and threatened
them.
But the footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage. Mr. Berry,
Albuquerque's mayor, called the shooting "horrific." And
hundreds of protesters poured into Albuquerque's streets on
March 30, clashing with police who used tear gas.
On Monday, city councilors heard hours of testimony from
residents voicing concerns about the police. Families of those
who were killed by officers have eagerly been awaiting the
results of the Justice Department's probe, launched in 2012.
Some of those family members were in attendance on Thursday and
said they had mixed reactions to the Justice Department's report.
"They came in with some harsh findings and that's a good thing,
but now they're going to have to make sure that all the
recommendations to correct the problems are carried out," said
Mike Gomez, whose son Alan was shot and killed in 2011 after
police responded to reports he was behaving erratically and was
armed with a rifle. The younger Mr. Gomez, 22, was unarmed.
Still, even as public outcry has grown louder, leaders of
Albuquerque's police union have defended fellow officers'
actions, saying the department was overwhelmed with having to
deal with people who were often mentally ill and dangerous.
"The expectations that the public places on police officers are
beyond human ability," Shaun Willoughby, vice president of the
Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said prior to the
release of the report Thursday.
Write to Dan Frosch at ***@wsj.com
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303873604579
493691278561818?mg=reno64-
wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonlin
e.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10
001424052702303873604579493691278561818.html
Albuquerque police had committed civil rights violations by
engaging in a widespread pattern of excessive and deadly force
during encounters with civilians who posed little if any threat.
The findings of the federal probe of the Albuquerque Police
Department, made public during a news conference at 10 a.m. MDT,
were the result of a 16-month civil rights investigation into
the department's high rate of police shootings, and accusations
that officers too often resorted to force.
Specifically, the Justice Department found that police used
deadly and less than lethal force on people who posed only a
minimal threat, and that officers' conduct often made volatile
situations worse. The report also concluded that encounters
between police and people suffering from mental illness too
frequently ended in violence.
"What we found is a pattern and practice of systemic
deficiencies that have pervaded the Albuquerque police
department for many years and need to be addressed," said
Jocelyn Samuels, acting assistant attorney general for civil
rights.
Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry said the report revealed some
"difficult findings," but that he believed the Justice
Department's recommendations could successfully take hold. And
he said that he remained confident in the majority of
Albuquerque police's officers.
"We know there are more changes to make than frankly I realized
before this report came out," Mr. Berry said.
Police Chief Gorden Eden said that he and his command staff
planned to meet with Justice Department officials late Thursday
to further understand how reforms proposed by the Justice
Department could be implemented.
"I believe the first place to start is with the top. And that
begins with myself and leadership in the APD," Chief Eden said.
The investigation follows a spate of fatal police shootings in
Albuquerque in recent yearsincluding the killing of a mentally
ill homeless man by officers last monthwhich have inflamed
tensions between community members and the police.
For several years now, Albuquerque police have faced mounting
criticism from city officials and advocacy groups for being too
quick to use lethal force during arrests of unarmed citizens.
Since 2010, officers here have been involved in 37 shootings,
more than half of them fatalunusually high numbers for a city
of about 550,000.
In 2010, for example, there were nine fatal police shootings in
Albuquerque. New York City, Houston and Dallas, all considerably
larger cities, each had eight that year, according to data
provided by the New York City Police Department.
Thursday's Justice Department report offered a litany of
recommendations, including a review of the department's use of
force protocol, training policies and how officers interact with
mentally ill individuals.
"We hope that these issues can be resolved by voluntary
agreement," Ms. Samuels said, noting that the plan was to put in
place a federal monitor to oversee the reforms. She called the
report "deeply troubling."
Police officials here have vowed to improve the department.
Several reforms, like requiring officers to record all
interactions with residents with lapel cameras, have already
been implemented.
But anger boiled over in recent weeks after James Boyd, a
troubled homeless man who was illegally camping in the foothills
around Albuquerque, was fatally shot after a standoff with
police.
A video camera, attached to an officer's helmet, showed police
firing at Mr. Boyd after he appeared to be turning and walking
away. Police said he had brandished two knives and threatened
them.
But the footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage. Mr. Berry,
Albuquerque's mayor, called the shooting "horrific." And
hundreds of protesters poured into Albuquerque's streets on
March 30, clashing with police who used tear gas.
On Monday, city councilors heard hours of testimony from
residents voicing concerns about the police. Families of those
who were killed by officers have eagerly been awaiting the
results of the Justice Department's probe, launched in 2012.
Some of those family members were in attendance on Thursday and
said they had mixed reactions to the Justice Department's report.
"They came in with some harsh findings and that's a good thing,
but now they're going to have to make sure that all the
recommendations to correct the problems are carried out," said
Mike Gomez, whose son Alan was shot and killed in 2011 after
police responded to reports he was behaving erratically and was
armed with a rifle. The younger Mr. Gomez, 22, was unarmed.
Still, even as public outcry has grown louder, leaders of
Albuquerque's police union have defended fellow officers'
actions, saying the department was overwhelmed with having to
deal with people who were often mentally ill and dangerous.
"The expectations that the public places on police officers are
beyond human ability," Shaun Willoughby, vice president of the
Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said prior to the
release of the report Thursday.
Write to Dan Frosch at ***@wsj.com
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303873604579
493691278561818?mg=reno64-
wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonlin
e.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10
001424052702303873604579493691278561818.html