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| NEWS > 16 November 2009 |
Other related articles:
Spokane police officer convicted in fatal beating
A former Los Angeles police officer working in Spokane, Wash., was convicted
by a federal jury Wednesday of using excessive force in the beating of a mentally
ill man who died after being struck with batons, hogtied, shocked and smothered.
The officer, Karl F. Thompson Jr., was convicted of civil rights violations and
obstruction charges stemming from what federal authorities called an "extensive
cover-up" within the Spokane Police Department after the 2006 incident.
The victim, Otto Zehm, 36, who was developmentally disabled and taking
medication for... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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The Tennessean
16 November 2009
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Ethics in Policing
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Civil rights organizations cal
Local and state leaders of the NAACP, the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education, and the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Tennessee called for an end to alleged “police brutality and misconduct” in Rutherford County Monday morning.
From the steps of the Murfreesboro City Hall, Gloria J. Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the time for unprofessional conduct in Rutherford County law enforcement is over.
“We have waited on the scales of justice to tip equally for far too long,” she said, addressing a pool of local and regional media representatives.
The press conference, which was not attended by any law enforcement, was a prelude to a public forum planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Allen Chapel AME Church, located at 224 S. Maney Ave. Members of the community, be they of any color, who wish to file formal complaints against any branch of law enforcement within the county are invited to come.
Sweet-Love said the case of Andron Reed, a Murfreesboro man who died while in the Rutherford County jail, was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” but was not the only reason the organizations have called for the public forum planned for Tuesday night.
“We’ve heard of misconduct stemming from months and years ago until this very recent incident,” she said. “That is why we’ve called for this forum.”
Reed died in jail Aug. 18, 2009 after being arrested by a state trooper amid allegations that jail staff used excessive force to restrain him. A state medical examiner's autopsy concluded he died of heart failure but concluded there was no evidence that he suffered blunt-force trauma.
“That is not enough (to rule out foul play),” Sweet-Love said. “The TBI, to our knowledge, is still investigating (the circumstances of Reed’s death).”
The NAACP said they are still in the fact-finding process concerning the Lakeisha White-Ron Killings case.
“We don’t feel like it would be fair to give you our opinion on that case at this time,” Sweet-Love said, later adding that the organization is looking into the complaints.
Killings, who is a former sheriff's detective, is accused of reckless homicide in White's death when his patrol vehicle struck the girl on Bradyville Pike July 17, 2008. Murfreesboro Police reassigned the lead and assistant crash team investigators in the case after they failed to collect possible evidence from the scene. Both still work for the department.
Local NAACP leader Goldy Wade said he is disturbed by all of the alleged misconduct that he’s heard concerning law enforcement.
“I’m very concerned about there being unreasonable and excessive force and unprofessional conduct among our law enforcement officers,” he said. “That’s why we are allowing the public an opportunity to share some of their concerns.”
James Thomas, a leader with the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Tennessee, said the conduct of reciprocity (aka the golden rule) should prevail in relations between police and the public.
“We respect the law, but we also want the law to respect us,” he said. “That’s what this is about.”
Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education leader Tommy Vallejos asked all members of the Hispanic community to attend the forum.
“Who is protecting us when those who break the law are law enforcement?” he asked. “I’m here to offer my support for this cause.”
Officials from the Department of Justice are expected to be on hand at the forum to hear any complaints from community members. Both Wade and Sweet-Love have said the effort is not a “witch hunt.”
Wade has said he merely wants the bad apples of the departments gone.
“We want to foster a good working relationship between the many good members of law enforcement and the community,” he said. “That is the ultimate goal of this effort. It only takes a few bad apples to spoil the whole bunch.”
The Daily News Journal attempted to contact officials with both the Murfreesboro Police Department and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, but no calls have been returned as of this time.
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