2008.03.20
It's what they don't say that's a concern
A Roanoke police officer shot an unarmed teenage boy after a traffic stop last month.
The shooting in Northwest Roanoke set off a flurry of letters to this newspaper's opinion page about the dangers of law enforcement and what officers should or should not do in a given situation.
No one disputes the risks of police work. But it's difficult for the public to arrive at a fully informed opinion -- whatever the opinion -- when it doesn't have the basic facts of the shooting.
For that, Roanokers can thank their police department.
More than a month after the Valentine's Day shooting, many questions remain about what exactly occurred when Officer Daniel Meyer pulled over a car in the 2400 block of Maryland Avenue and shot the fleeing driver, Josh Brown, 17.
Last week, I e-mailed department spokeswoman Aisha Johnson with a list of nine questions. She addressed three: the officer remains on administrative leave; she doesn't know when the investigation will be wrapped up; she can't talk about whether the teen, whom she didn't identify, has a criminal record.
Apart from those, "Since the investigation is ongoing, I can't answer additional questions," Johnson wrote in conclusion.
The old saw that goes "silence is golden" must be standard operating procedure at the police department. From lower-profile to more serious incidents, the police have a pattern of holding the public at bay.
According to news reports of last month's shooting, Meyer was patrolling about 10:30 a.m. when he stopped a car because of a registration issue.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Roanokers aren't allowed to know what the registration problem was.
Brown ran from the car and the officer followed him. Meyer lost sight of the teen but spotted him behind a house on nearby Clifton Street. The officer ordered the teen to show his hands and get on the ground.
The teen turned and lowered his hands near his waist and out of the officer's sight. Meyer fired one shot.
Because the investigation is ongoing, the public doesn't know whether the youth was facing the officer or if he had turned away when he lowered his hands.
Because the investigation is ongoing, the public doesn't know whether the officer shot Brown in the front or the back.
Because the investigation is ongoing, the public doesn't know if police found a weapon anywhere near the shooting scene.
I spoke briefly with the teen last week. But he and his family aren't talking either.
Because the investigation is ongoing, the public doesn't know what police found, or didn't find, when they searched the car after the shooting.
Responding to a question during a news conference after the shooting, Chief Joe Gaskins said the shooting victim was "known to police." So I asked Johnson what he meant by that.
She responded in the e-mail, "... I can't talk about anyone's criminal history, or even confirm that an individual has a criminal history," referring to a state law.
So we have Gaskins using winks and code words to suggest Brown isn't a choirboy. But golly, the law prevents police from backing that up with facts.
The Roanoke agency's tight-lipped approach to informing its public in a timely fashion is nothing new. It stands in stark contrast to another recent police shooting, in Roanoke County, when a heavily armed man initiated a shootout with officers.
The city and county shootings aren't comparable -- and neither are the two agency's response to the public.
County police were more forthcoming with details about the contents of the shooter's vehicle and other information that provided a clearer picture of what happened.
That type of information helps taxpayers evaluate the response of officers charged with their safety. It's called accountability.
"Sadly about in every report, I see the infamous words 'The Roanoke City Police Department is investigating the matter,' " an anonymous reader e-mailed The Roanoke Times a few days after last month's shooting.
"Then I hear hardly anything else on 'the matter.' We do not need a Secret Police and Secret Reports on Public Issues."
Mum's the word at the Roanoke Police Department will continue as long as residents sit quietly by and accept police's stock answer.
If residents want to know more, they will have to demand more.
Shanna Flowers' column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
(Yes, I copied from the internet...)
But seriously, how separate are the people that perform these internal investigations from the department itself?
Not a knock on the police, but even the appearance of bias leads to mistrust of the investigation, the investigators, and the police.
I guess I need to research how internal police investigations are conducted.
Comment by Ed S. — March 20, 2008 @ 9:07 am
There should be no controversy here. It's really very simple. When a police officer says put your hands up, do it. Do not reach toward your pockets. This officer was probably alone, and had to think and act quickly to protect his own life. Would you have hesitated? I wouldn't have. And the reason for the secrecy and slow forthcoming of information is easy to understand also. Words are easily misinterpreted or twisted by others who wish to use them against you.I'd want to be sure I was clear and concise before speaking also. There's no mystery here.
Comment by B.Perkins — March 20, 2008 @ 9:52 am
My hear goes out to all parties concerned, but let all information be released no stone unturned and no instant justification.
The investigation needs to be thorough for this case could easily turn into a Deaunta Farrow case of Memphis TN.
A 12yr old kid shot twice by police for having a toy gun.
These questions arose:
Deaunta Farrow had no juvenile record
Did he have a toy gun?
Did he point it at the Police officer?
Did the police officer see the gun at 100 yds away about 9:30 PM?
Was or did the police officer give a verbal command to get on the ground?
Why didn't the second officer shoot if they both felt threaten?
Why was there no blood on the gun?
Did race play a factor for the officer firing his weapon, by not taking a chance?
Yet the Half the city blame the single parent for being at work for the kids death.
End result:
Justifiable shooting, let's wait till the investigation is complete before we start yelling for someones badge. coinencedetally 3-17-08 Jacksonville Florida Police was involved in a shooting were the suspect shot a total of 14 rounds taking a kid hostage and ended with the suspect leveling a weapon at police, yet JSO gave the command to "DROP YOU WEAPON" four times before shooting and wounding the suspect twice.
Everything goes to training and on the job stress.
Comment by Backlash — March 20, 2008 @ 10:27 am
Backlash,
Don't get me wrong. My first comment was more of a general one, and a bit of a question out loud. How separate are the investigators when internal investigations are being conducted?
But yes, we must know all the info before we rush to judgment. And in the case where a shooting was in self-defense according to the principles of self-defense, I'm apt to support the defender. One must view the situation from the evidence available at the time, not the evidence collected following the action.
Now I guess the question at hand, the one that Shanna asks, is should the information be available sooner? Can we expect information to be available during the investigation. I don't feel informed enough to form a definite opinion on that yet.
Comment by Ed S. — March 20, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
It's quite simple. The kid should not have ran. Let's not forget that. This Officer has to make quick decisions or he may not go home at all. If he failed to comply with the Departments policy. Then by all mean, get him off the street. We should let them do there job instead of punish him before we know. We weren't there anyway. And the reason Roanoke County gave more info. There guy was already dead and there is a lot more legal liabilty dealing with a juvenile than a deaceased person.
Comment by Eric — March 21, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Eric :
People run from the police everyday and just because a police officer can not catch the suspect does not give them the right to shoot the person because they out run them.
Unless the police officer is under a perceived threat then they must use those weapons requiring apprehension up to deadly force.
Not because they are a minority, what you are implying is why take a chance with this race vice this race, that is nothing short of genocide.
Comment by Backlash — April 1, 2008 @ 11:59 am
Could new technology answer questions in police shootings.
New Police Technology Offers Bird’s Eye View
Pistol Cam Fits on Gun Barrel and Records as Soon as It Is Removed From Holster
“This allows us the opportunity to review shooting incidents, unlawful use of force incidents and hopefully exonerate the member that’s involved in the shooting. It also ensures the public the police are not overstepping their boundaries,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dennis Barry.
Comment by Static — April 2, 2008 @ 7:32 am
Backlash:
I understand exactly what you are saying. I have been through this training. I am not implying that if a person runs then it's ok to use deadly force. I really hope this officer didnt shoot because he wanted to. I am just saying if he asked to see the guys hand and he turned around with his hand in his pocket, started to pull something out. Then maybe the shooting was premature, but not unexplainable. I just don't think this Officer should hang before everything is laid out on the table. So many people judge things when they were not there, and when they don't know how it feels to be in those situations. It's too easy to be a monday quaterback these days. We sure pick on these guys everyday, but they don't make any money and yet we don't hesitate to call them when we need them.
Comment by Eric — April 3, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Ed S.
On your comment of " according to the principles of self-defense, I'm apt to support the defender".
This young kid was not like Bonnie & Clyde or John Dillinger nor was he the likes of Larry Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasareanu, "North Hollywood shootout bank robbers" in California.
It is purely my opinion this kid was not a perceived threat the other foremention individuals acted in a manner that warranted the appropriate action.
If the information is made public as soon as possible people will not say "Cover Up".
Comment by Backlash — April 3, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Eric
Well let's say the kid was scared and he had something in his pocket with drew it to show the officer, The officer fires "Bang Bang", the suspect falls upon checking the perp all he had was an over size wallet.
Just last night on an episode of "The First 48" they came across a car accident where a man was involved.
They yelled to him whats going on, they seen his weapon they shouted at him 5 times put the weapon on the ground.
Instead he reaches to his back pocket the officers Yelled "don't do it", he then pulls a badge and flashes it the officers still yelling get on the ground.
He's off duty Corrections Officer.
The differences is they didn't shoot and they seen a weapon the threat was perceived.
Comment by Backlash — April 3, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Backlash:
It does take a strong sense of self control. In regard to the acciddnt, those officers really didn't want to shoot him. My question is, was the injured officer able to speak? I mean they asked him 5 times. People can comply wih the orders, then explain verbally whats going on. I know, in todays word, lack of common sense can get you killed.
Comment by Eric — April 4, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Why wasn't this "kid" in school or at work? 10:30am on a weekday, after all. Of all the questions that nobody has asked, that's the one I am most curious about.
Comment by Ed — April 7, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
Good Point Ed
Comment by Eric — April 7, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
Wait a minute. I don't won't to seem like I am out to crucifie a police officer into second guessing his life away, but I was under the assumption this shooting took place at night not morning. This gives any person of reasonable vision a better view of a suspect and his or her weapon.
As in the Farrow shooting in Memphis which occurred 9:30 PM at night the officer seen a suspect with a gun concealed under his shirt at 100yds away, the Roanoke officer seen what he thought to be a weapon at 30yds away and it's 10:30 AM in the morning.
DeAunta' 12 yr old walked from a store with a bag of potato chips and sipping a soda, Josh 17 yr old ran from a traffic stop. The officer confronted DeAunta and his cousin at 30 yds what was said is in dispute the cousin immediately laid down on the ground. DeAunta while holding chips and soda was shot twice once through the back of the leg and once through the chest.
Josh ran from the traffic stop causing Meyer to lose sight of the teen, but spotted him behind a house on nearby Clifton Street. The officer ordered the teen to show his hands and get on the ground. The teen turned and lowered his hands near his waist and out of the officer's sight. Meyer fired one shot. I will presume through the back since Josh turned away from the officer.
Comment by Backlash — April 9, 2008 @ 12:54 am