policing
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Citing Costs, Police Departments Drop Use of Body Cameras
Over the past several years, police departments across the country have equipped themselves with body cameras in an attempt to increase accountability and mend relationships with communities who cited a lack of trust between themselves and the officers charged with protecting them. But many departments—particularly those in smaller jurisdictions—are either dumping or pressing pause on…
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Chicago Man Becomes the 19th to Have His Murder Conviction Overturned After Accusing Detective of Framing Him
After spending nearly two decades in jail for a murder he didn’t commit, Geraldo Iglesias finally had his conviction overturned by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on Wednesday. Iglesias was among 50 defendants who say they were framed for murder by retired Chicago detective Reynaldo Guevara. With his exoneration, Iglesias becomes the 10th person…
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Did NYPD Spy on Black Lives Matter Protesters? Judge Rules Police Must Disclose Surveillance Data
A New York State judge ruled on Monday that the NYPD has to disclose whether it spied on Black Lives Matter protesters and interfered with their ability to use their cellphones at protests. The ruling, which came after the New York Civil Liberties Union and protesters affiliated with the Movement for Black Lives were denied…
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Tennessee Detective Caught Beating a Handcuffed Black Man Still Collecting Checks on Desk Duty
A white Hamilton County, Tennessee, detective caught on camera punching and kicking a black man in handcuffs is now on desk duty as police launch an investigation into the case. Video of the Dec. 3 incident captured by a neighbor shows Detective Blake Kilpatrick beating 24-year-old Charles Toney, punching him in the ribs and face…
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Betty Shelby Gets Bounced from Police Conference, Crutcher Family Calls It ‘Step in the Right Direction’
In what Tiffany Crutcher is calling a small “victory” for her family, a major homicide investigators conference has rescinded their invitation to have former Tulsa, Okla., Officer Betty Shelby speak at its event. Shelby, who shot and killed unarmed black motorist Terence Crutcher in 2016, was scheduled to talk about “Surviving the Aftermath of a…
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This Is the Police Interaction Video Texas Students Must Watch to Graduate High School
In an effort to repair trust between Texas citizens and law enforcement, all high school students in the state must take a class and watch a 16-minute training video that guides them on how to behave during a traffic stop. The course, which also aims to reduce tragic interactions between the police and citizens, is…
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At This Baltimore Summer Camp, All the Counselors Are Cops—But They Don't Tell Kids That Until the End
The “Love You to Live” camp, on its face, seems like many other summer overnight camps. Designed to help Baltimore students who are in difficult circumstances or have already been through the juvenile justice system, the focus of the camp is to help students develop, connect to peers and role models who can support them,…
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White Georgia Cop Faces Voluntary Manslaughter Charge in Death of Black Motorist
For at least the second time this week, a white police officer has been charged in the death of an unarmed black person. Kingsland, Ga., Police Officer Zechariah Presley was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of Anthony Green, a black motorist who was shot while running away from Presley. CBS News reports that…
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Them vs. Us: How Black Cops View Policing in America
Editor’s note: This week, The Root will examine the many facets of law enforcement and its effects on the black community with our weeklong series Unprotected, Underserved: The Policing of Black America. “You live in [redacted], don’t you?” he said. “What?” I responded, prompting him to repeat the name of the subdivision where I lived. I…
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Unprotected, Underserved: The (False) Criminalization of Black America
Editor’s note: This week, The Root will examine the many facets of law enforcement and its effects on the black community with our weeklong series Unprotected, Underserved: The Policing of Black America. Any attempt at understanding the effects of policing in black America must begin from a rational, objective perspective. We must first free ourselves…