Phoenix Copwatch Media
Phoenix Copwatch Responds to Police Mishandling of 2007 MLK Day Celebration
April 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Email: phoenix_copwatch@yahoo.com
PHOENIX COPWATCH CALLS FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE WAKE OF TWO SHOOTINGS
A Phoenix police officer shot a 19-year-old man in the face Sunday morning. A Mesa police officer shot and killed a 35-year-old man on Friday. Although there will be internal investigations by the respective police departments, no serious punitive measures are likely to be taken if the officers acted improperly.
Phoenix Copwatch believes that internal reviews of police misconduct and killings are not enough. Without true civilian oversight of police activity, it is nearly impossible to ascertain the true facts in a situation involving police use of force. Often times, the police at the scene are the only witnesses to the situation. In these cases, the well-known “blue wall of silence” is likely to shield officers from punishment. Other times, the witnesses at the scene refute the testimony of the police, as was the case when Dawn Rae Nelson was shot from behind and killed by a Chandler police officer, and when Mario Madrigal, Jr. was killed by Mesa police while he was on the ground in his home.
Phoenix Copwatch calls for the formation of truly independent Civilian Review Boards (CRBs) in all Valley police jurisdictions. Although independent CRBs exist in several cities around the U.S., no Valley city has established a truly independent body that will consider complaints about police misconduct. In fact, the City of Mesa is prohibited by its Charter from establishing such a board! But without this important oversight, police officers are not fully accountable to the communities that they are paid to serve.
Phoenix Copwatch is a citizen's group formed to combat abuse by the police in our community. We use a variety of means to fight police abuse including community patrols, videotaping and community education. Copwatch is completely independent from the police, all other law enforcement agencies, the government, and all political parties. We are always available for comment on stories involving police use of force. More information about Phoenix Copwatch can be found at our website: www.phoenixcopwatch.org
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