APD officer fired after shooting death of suspect...

[MrScorpio]

On April 21 cops in Albuquerque shot and killed 19-year-old Mary Hawkes, who was suspected of auto theft. It was the third fatal shooting by officers from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) in a month and the first since the Department of Justice (DOJ) had announced the results of its review of civil rights violations and abuses by the APD. The assistant attorney general who made that announcement insisted that even though the DOJ found a likely pattern and practice of civil rights abuses, it wasn't singling out any individual officer or questioning the character of the department's members.

"We recognize that many of you are dedicated public servants who wear your badge with distinction," said Jocelyn Samuels, the assistant attorney general. "We do not intend our findings today to mean that you must needlessly risk your lives or safety. You must come home safely to your family and loved ones."

The feds may have declined to target any specific officer that may be contributing to the pattern and practice of abuse but at least in the case of the shooting of Mary Hawkes the APD showed it might be interested in actually disciplining officers contributing to the department's problems. Officers of the APD are equipped with body cameras. Footage from such cameras has helped bring attention to questionable police shootings like that of a knife- or brake pad-wielding man in December or that of a homeless camper in March that sparked protests across New Mexico.

The officer who shot and killed Hawkes did not have his lapel camera turned on. He insists he turned it on prior to the encounter but it was off and the manufacturer said they couldn't determine if the officer was being truthful. Now the officer, Jeremy Dear, has been fired.

http://reason.com/blog/2014/12/03/albuquerque-pd-fires-cop-for-not-turning

[notadmblnd]

1. cops should not have the option of turning cameras off and on.

[ladjf]

2. The lapel cameras aren't going to be highly effective if the officers are able to

turn it off at their discretion. It needs to remain on the entire time they are on duty. If fact, the officers should welcome the presence of the cameras for their own liability protection. In other words, if you are doing nothing wrong you will not be harmed by the video.

[Downwinder]

3. Insubordination. that is not following Police orders.

Why was he not summarily executed?

[okaawhatever]

4. AYFKM? "It was the third fatal shooting by officers from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) in

a month."