Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Mayor Bell concerned about DPD protecting civil rights?

Mayor Bill Bell says he understands the Civil Rights Commission is concerned that the Durham Police Department is protecting people's civil rights, and that he is too. According to this WRAL story. The Mayor wants the DPD to make a report to city council by next week. He wants to know what the DPD investigation shows even if the police department does not know what the State Bureau of Investigation investigation has turned up. Here are some questions that the DPD should be able to answer: (1) Did Officer Duncan check his patrol car before going on shift and each time he left the car during his shift? I am not a police officer, but I have found out that it is a "best practice" for police officers to thoroughly check their patrol cars before they go out and again every time they transport someone in the patrol car. The DPD's professional responsibility and training officer assigned to this case should have an answer to that question. (2) How did thorough was officer Duncan's search of Jesus Huerta when he was arrested? PR&T may not have an answer for that. They may have tossed that issue to the SBI. Still, the DPD has said in their pressers that Duncan did search Huerta upon arrest. If we accept, and I do, that Duncan didn't just shoot Huerta, the gun had to be concealed on Huerta's person or it had to be left in Duncan's patrol car. Neither situation is good for Duncan. But, the longer the DPD tries to cover up what went on, the worse it looks for the force.

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