Title: FW: Need for Independent Investigation of Police Killing
Forwarded on behalf of list member Jordan Kushner. -- David Brauer, list manager
----- Original Message -----
From: Jordan Kushner <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 10:32 AM
Subject: Need for Independent Investigation of Police Killing
I attended the press conference and vigil at Franklin and Chicago Avenues this morning for the Somali man whom Minneapolis police shot and killed yesterday. The very diverse turnout of about 100 people was impressive. RT showed up early and talked to all of the reporters. He gets credit for being at the scene in the community - which would be unimaginable with at least the past two mayors. His commitment to concrete meaningful action, however, is the more importantant and difficult test. RT's talk was limited to getting the information and listening to the community's concerns. The irony of just having eliminated the Civilian Review Authority and cutting the budget for any independent oversight by more than 50% illustrates the contradiction between talk and commitment.
As far as concrete and meaningful action goes, I do have a concrete suggestion:
hire an independent investigator to gather the facts about this killing, as well as evaluating the policies and practices connected to this and the numerous other shootings by the Minneapolis police department in the past couple of years.
As of now, the case is referred to the Hennepin County Sheriff investigator, the regular practice in these cases. The problem is that the Hennepin County Sheriff investigators will only focus on the specific incident, almost definitely exonerate the officers involved, and will not look at underlying policies and practices. The Hennepin County Sheriff is separate from the police deparment only in the most technical sense, but in reality works hand-in-hand with the police department on a daily basis. Its "investigations" of these incidents are superficial and focused on corroborating the police officer's accounts.
In order to really "do something" about the trigger happy culture in the Minneapolis police department, we need an expert and in-depth investigation by investigators who really have no connection to the department. Although RT mentioned at the press conference his usual emphasis on not spending more money because we are in a recession, the city recently spend $150 to examine the circumstances behind an elected offiicial taking a bribe. It is certainly more important to spend money necessary to find out answers why the police are killing people. The type of investigation conducted will be a real indicator about whether the city officials really care to find out why.
Jordan Kushner
Powderhorn
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