Welcome to the weekly update from the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity! Here, we give you a wrap-up of the latest developments and notable news as we continue our state-focused fight to abolish the unjust rule.
This week, a rogue police chief gets caught using racial slurs; an off-duty official is charged with fatally shooting a Bronx teen; the Institute for Justice examines the unclear nature of qualified immunity; and more!
FEATURED STORY
The Washington Post: Police Chief Bragged About Shooting Black Man 119 Times, According to Recording
“This audio is damning….It’s not just a reflection of one officer. It’s a reflection of an entire culture of policing, and it should spur Congress to finally rein in this modern-day slave patrol. A culture like this does not deserve immunity.”
Read more here.
NEW YORK
Bad official Dion Middleton has been arrested for killing Raymond Chaluisant. The 18-year-old victim was playing with a toy water pistol in the Bronx when the off-duty corrections officer fatally shot him at close range. “I can’t believe a corrections officer killed my brother,” said Jiraida Esquilin, Chaluisant’s sister. “Everything nowadays is a rage thing.”
Read more here.
“These officers should have been indicted a long time ago instead of still working at Rikers Island while Nicholas was still in the hospital trying to live.” Four rogue corrections officers appeared in court on Monday on charges of reckless endangerment and official misconduct for refusing to act as 18-year-old detainee Nicholas Feliciano, who struggled with mental illness, attempted suicide in his cell.
Read more here.
The NAACP of New Rochelle demands justice and accountability after a jury acquitted bad cop Mark Vaccaro for brutalizing Malik Fogg in February 2021. “He should render assistance, not exact vengeance, not throw punches…when Mr. Fogg was on the ground…that’s clearly conduct unbecoming an officer,“ said civil rights attorney Mayo Bartlett.
Watch here.
MARYLAND
The Justice Department sets its sights on the Maryland State Police, launching an investigation to determine whether it has set up “barriers for Black people seeking job opportunities and promotions and, if so, identify the reforms necessary to ensure equal employment opportunities.”
Read more here.
ILLINOIS
On Friday, a jury awarded Chicago detective Beth Svec substantial damages after she sued her supervisors for retaliating against her when she called out police misconduct in 2017. Svec’s lawyer said the ruling “should motivate ‘good police officers to come forward’ when they witness wrongdoing.”
Read more here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Fox2 KTVU: San Jose K-9 Bites Man’s Throat for 1 Minute Reigniting Police Dog Concerns
“The episode underscores major concerns critics have been raising about the use of K-9s: Unlike other use-of-force options, police dogs can be unpredictable, often leading to devastating and disproportionate injuries regardless of what a person has done. In [Anthony] Paredes’ case, his injuries were nearly fatal, requiring two weeks in a hospital.”
Read more here. (CW: graphic footage)
The Charlotte Observer: The Power of the Black Community: Systemic Racism Talk Held at Charlotte Fraternity Event
“At the beginning of the discussion, [Ben] Crump talked about a controversial policy that has been discussed after Black people fall victim to police brutality. Crump, who has represented many families of Black people killed by police, including George Floyd, Jacob Blake and Daunte Wright, said qualified immunity essentially allows members of law enforcement to get away with murder.”
Read more here.
ABC13: Humble Man Claims Police Brutality During Arrest Caught on Surveillance Video
“This is the kind of stuff that causes people, normal citizens like us, not to trust [the police]. And they want to know why they have a public image problem? It’s because of things like this.”
Read more here.
Washington Examiner: Who Can Sue the Police? They Don’t Even Know
“[Qualified immunity] creates a moving target as case law grows. Not even the police know what is clearly established at a given time — unless they are going home from work and reading the latest court opinions. Yet officers routinely claim qualified immunity anyway, shifting the burden of proof on to their accusers.”
Read more here.
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