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D.C. police to do away with monitors
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Washington DC (Map, News) - The Metropolitan Police Department has enacted enough reforms to do away with an independent monitor that keeps close tabs on police shootings and use of force, the District announced Friday.
In 2001, the city entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice after the federal agency investigated allegations of excessive use of force by D.C. officers, including 85 fatal police shootings in eight years. The volunteer agreement is on track to be terminated by June next year.
The agencies selected an independent monitor to oversee a host of police reforms, including the way the department trained its officers and investigated incidents in which they used force. The department created a use-of-force investigation team and a police complaints board, and required all 3,600 police officers to go through firearms training.
"The MPD has come a long way," said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, noting that when she joined the force in 1990, officers were simply handed a gun and a nightstick with little training on how and when to use them. Lanier was part of a mass hiring mandated in 1989 by Congress in which 1,500 new officers were rushed into service.
Fatal police shootings fell from a high of 16 in 1995 to two in 2006. This year, the city has had five deadly police shootings, including the high-profile shooting of 14-year-old DeOnte Rawlings by an off-duty officer.
If the department shows enough progress, it could be released from the agreement as early as March.
One of the changes the District is still working on is implementation of a computer system that tracks an officer's history of using force and citizen complaints.
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:16 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 27, 2008 re: "A date with friends ends in homicide"
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Examiner Reader said:
Wrong place at the wrong time? No, he was white and kicked into the ground by blacks.
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Examiner Reader said:
That's the truth the civilians are treated like second class citizen for the Metropolitan Police Department, but yet Poly Hanson who is ready to come on board is negotiating a salary. Go figure!
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Examiner Reader said:
Take away the right of the people and this is what you get. They have the right to keep and bear arms for this reason. People want to control people so its time to step up and take back your rights and stand up for yourself because no one else is going to.
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