Videos & Police Abuse

By:wpt.com

On July 29th, 2015, A University of Cincinnati police officer, Ray Tensing, was charged with the murder of Samuel DuBose. The officer’s body camera revealed the officer shooting the unarmed motorist in the head. The officer had stopped Mr. Dubose for driving without a front license plate. The officer’s video revealed that Mr. Dubose was not belligerent or aggressive toward the police officer. Hamilton County Prosecutor, Joe Deters, described the incident as very poor policing and stated,

“He wasn’t dealing with someone wanted for murder. He was dealing with someone without a front license plate,” Deters said, describing that offense as “chicken crap stuff.”

The officer’s criminal trial is set for October 24, 2016.

In another well publicized incident, Walter Scott was shot by a North Charleston police officer, Michael Slager during a traffic stop for a non-functioning brake light.The officer was charged with murder after a cell phone video revealed the officer shooting Mr. Scott in the back while he was running from the police officer. Mr.Scott was unarmed.

Michael Slager’s trial is scheduled for October 31, 2016.

In both tragic incidents, videos, either a police officer’s body camera or a bystander’s cellphone, had recorded what really happened to each black man during a routine stop. In both occurrences, the videos contradicted the police officer’s statements and reports. If there were no videos, in all probability, none of the police officers would have faced criminal charges. Every police officer should be required to wear a body camera for their protection and the public’s protection. By doing so, the truth will show itself.

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”
By: Winston Churchill

By: Bradley Schwartz
Founder of prisonpath.com