Father of four, Walter Scott, was recently shot and killed by Officer Michael Slager in South Carolina. Here you can find the link to the video of the shooting –> Walter Scott Shooting
In a vacant lot near where Scott was pulled over for his broken tail light, Slager accuses him of reaching for his taser which made him “fear for his life” so Slager then fires 8 shots at Scott as he runs away, killing him. He then calmly handcuffed him while on the ground and proceeded with his protocol. According to NBC News, the video taken of the shooting does not coincide with the incident report that Slager and another officer filled out, including the fact that the secondary officer DID NOT provide Scott with CPR upon the officers arrival. Other things among that were also questioned in the video and the Justice Department of South Carolina and the FBI were brought in to review the case.
After some debate, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey came to the decision to charge the officer, mainly due to the footage of the shooting. He claimed that having to charge a police officer was “not something that we like to hear or like to say but it goes to say how we work as a community: When you’re wrong, you’re wrong and if you make a bad decision, don’t care if you’re behind the shield or just a citizen on the street, you have to live by that decision.” According to the Daily News Officer Slager was denied bail and if in fact convicted, he will be facing a minimum of 30 years in prison or the death penalty which is a huge milestone. It is a rarity that officers are actually convicted of a brutality crime but this specific incident could lead to the death penalty.
If Slager is convicted and sentenced to capital punishment this could mean a huge change in the way that police officers are not prosecuted after an act of police brutality. Maybe this could actually be a good way to control the situation because it would show bad police officers that there are actual serious repercussions for such violent acts that have been committed. Maybe the implementation of a serious punishment is what is needed.
Aliza N Winneg says
After years and years of blatant police brutality, especially brought to light in this past year in Ferguson, this is a small gain for justice for victims of police brutality. Police officers should not be above the law just because they are the ones who enforce it. They should be subject to the same procedures and punishments as the rest of the population. Although I do not advocate for the death penalty if this is what would have been given for an average citizen it should be give to a police officer who commits a crime worthy of that punishment.
Margot Weitz says
I think it is so important and necessary that this police officer is being punished so much. We trust our police force so much, and we have so many reasons to do so. When something like this happens – which seems to be a quite often recently – it breaks that trust. It is just mind-blowing that our own law enforcers can sometimes have no problem breaking the law.
Aubrey Marie Swanson says
The emergence of video graphic evidence has really brought light to this terrible problem of police brutality. The first time we really saw something very influential like this was with Rodney King. It just makes me cringe to think about how much police officers were able to get away with in the past. Their power as law enforcers should be limited. Law enforcers cannot break the law, yet it seems as if many have gotten away with it. UNTIL NOW. I can see police brutality as an issue that will be resolved soon, especially with so many instances this year. Something needs to be done at the federal level so that all Americans can be protected from police brutality and abuse of power.