Posted on Jan 31, 2023
Police statements tell the first version of an incident. Then video footage comes out
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https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/ [login to see] /tyre-nichols-body-cam-video-police-statements-discrepancies
In the days since Tennessee officials released video footage of Memphis police officers brutally beating Tyre Nichols, law enforcement has faced a new wave of criticism.
Some of it has focused on how authorities initially described the incident – and what the videos actually show.
According to a statement from the Memphis Police Department the day after Nichols was beaten, officers pulled over a suspect on suspicion of reckless driving and "a confrontation occurred." The suspect fled, police followed and "another confrontation occurred."
(The statement notes that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was looking into the stop "due to the suspect's condition.")
Video footage released Friday, taken from officers' body cameras and a street surveillance camera, shows a different story. In the videos, police quickly yank Nichols from his car, shout obscenities and threats, and then pepper spray him. Nichols flees, and when police finally catch him a second time, officers kick him, hit him with a baton and repeatedly punch him in the head while he's being restrained.
In the days since Tennessee officials released video footage of Memphis police officers brutally beating Tyre Nichols, law enforcement has faced a new wave of criticism.
Some of it has focused on how authorities initially described the incident – and what the videos actually show.
According to a statement from the Memphis Police Department the day after Nichols was beaten, officers pulled over a suspect on suspicion of reckless driving and "a confrontation occurred." The suspect fled, police followed and "another confrontation occurred."
(The statement notes that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was looking into the stop "due to the suspect's condition.")
Video footage released Friday, taken from officers' body cameras and a street surveillance camera, shows a different story. In the videos, police quickly yank Nichols from his car, shout obscenities and threats, and then pepper spray him. Nichols flees, and when police finally catch him a second time, officers kick him, hit him with a baton and repeatedly punch him in the head while he's being restrained.
Police statements tell the first version of an incident. Then video footage comes out
Posted from npr.org
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Police
Law Enforcement
Memphis
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Headley also said statements could be vague because investigators are still gathering evidence, or police leadership may not want to admit to a mistake or damage morale by condemning an officer's actions too quickly.
"But I think really where the conflict comes in is when there are discrepancies in the report or in the statements that are put out that don't match the evidence when it comes out. And when the language that is used is particularly one that tries to abdicate responsibility," she said.
Even after violent incidents, there are ways police departments can try to build trust, Headley suggested.
She said she worked with one agency that would bring in community leaders for an explanation of an incident before discussing it with the media. Departments can also acknowledge if they are still looking into what happened, she said, including if they haven't reviewed any video evidence yet."
..."Headley also said statements could be vague because investigators are still gathering evidence, or police leadership may not want to admit to a mistake or damage morale by condemning an officer's actions too quickly.
"But I think really where the conflict comes in is when there are discrepancies in the report or in the statements that are put out that don't match the evidence when it comes out. And when the language that is used is particularly one that tries to abdicate responsibility," she said.
Even after violent incidents, there are ways police departments can try to build trust, Headley suggested.
She said she worked with one agency that would bring in community leaders for an explanation of an incident before discussing it with the media. Departments can also acknowledge if they are still looking into what happened, she said, including if they haven't reviewed any video evidence yet."
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