Greetings,
On Monday, Feb. 4. Memphis residents will have a rare opportunity to make complaints about brutality and misconduct committed by the Memphis Police Department to investigators for the national agency that will decide if the MPD will keep its status as a nationally accredited department. (See news article, http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/jan/19/comment-time-coming-for-memphis-police/.)
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will conduct a public session on Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the MPD station at 949 E.H. Crump Blvd. At this time, members of the community may make complaints about the MPD. If you cannot attend this session, you may make comments to the accreditation team (anonymously, if desired) by phone on Feb. 4 from 1-3 p.m. by calling (901)636-3904. Comments made also be made in writing and mailed to the Commissoin on Accrediation for Law Enforcement Agencies, 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.
We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to let the CALEA know about the violence and corruption rampant within the MPD. The CALEA needs to know that at least 11 people died at the hands of the MPD in 2012, including 15-year-old Justin Thompson, shot to death by off-duty MPD officer Terrance Shaw on Sept. 24, 2012. It has been four months since Justin was killed, yet no public report has been issued about his death. We talked to his mother last week, and she said the police have told her nothing about the investigation.
We are still in the first month of 2013, and MPD officers have already shot and killed two men. 1. http://wreg.com/2013/01/18/man-shot-killed-by-memphis-police/ -- According to Channel 3 news, the family of the dead man in this case, Steven Askew, has hired a lawyer and plans to file a lawsuit against the MPD.
2. http://wreg.com/2013/01/11/police-shoot-and-kill-man-while-serving-warrant/, This man was allegedly abusing animals.
Just yesterday, an MPD officer was suspended after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman on Sunday. In September, 2012, MPD patrolman Sean McWhiter was charged with sex trafficking. Also, in September, 2012, MPD officer Margaret Taylor was charged with assaulting three youths, ages 10, 13 and 16.
The list of violent and corrupt MPD cops could go on Altogether, in 2012, over 25 MPD officers were arrested. This is important information that the CALEA needs to know. With a record like this, the MPD should not be accredited again.
We must make our voices heard, and spread the word to others about the Feb. 4 hearing. We especially encourage the families and friends of people who were killed or brutalized by the MPD to attend the CALEA hearing and speak out. Black Autonomy Copwatch, a project of the Memphis Black Autonomy Federation, will be there. We hope to see you. We canot let the MPD get away with claiming to be a model police department.
Finally, it is great that Steven Askew's family plans to seek justice for his death. However, lawsuits alone will not get justice for the mistreatment that you, family members, or friends may have received from MPD officers. Nor will lawsuits alone obtain justice against the police who may have killed your loved ones. There needs to be a movement in the streets against police brutality and misconduct, that puts pressure on the local government and the cops. It's the only way that victims and their families can win anything. Power concedes nothing without a demand, and it never will!
Join Black Autonomy Copwatch
A program of the Memphis Black Autonomy Federation
P.O. Box 16382, Memphis, TN 38186-0382
Phone: (901)674-8430
Peace and love,
JoNina Ervin, Acting Director
We thank Black Autonomy Copwatch for this important announcement. FOLLOW ME AT TWITTER, where I am @KOFFIETIME http://Twitter.com/koffietime . CoIntelPro won't let me add the Twitter gadget that would allow us to see my last five tweets at this blog, because they probably differ from my actual last five tweets. I became America's most censored person to contain news about my disabled brother's secret arrest and murder in Memphis/Shelby County Jail in 2003. The jail and the U.S. Justice Department refuse to give any accountability about the WRONGFUL DEATH OF LARRY NEAL http://WrongfulDeathOfLarryNeal.com . Therefore, even though Black Autonomy Copwatch thinks it is giving you an accurate body count, please know that there may be people whose deaths were covered up. Thank you for your interest in justice issues.
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We thank Black Autonomy Copwatch for this important announcement. FOLLOW ME AT TWITTER, where I am @KOFFIETIME http://Twitter.com/koffietime . CoIntelPro won't let me add the Twitter gadget that would allow us to see my last five tweets at this blog, because they probably differ from my actual last five tweets. I became America's most censored person to contain news about my disabled brother's secret arrest and murder in Memphis/Shelby County Jail in 2003. The jail and the U.S. Justice Department refuse to give any accountability about the WRONGFUL DEATH OF LARRY NEAL http://WrongfulDeathOfLarryNeal.com . Therefore, even though Black Autonomy Copwatch thinks it is giving you an accurate body count, please know that there may be people whose deaths were covered up. Thank you for your interest in justice issues.
ReplyDeleteIf you have opinions on this article, please comment below or write to Black Autonomy Copwatch at P.O. Box 16382, Memphis, TN 38186-0382
Phone: (901)674-8430.
You are always welcome to TRY to email me at MaryLovesJustice@gmail.com. IF I receive your email, I will respond.