Change my location 
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty refused to apologize Friday for his handling of the police-involved fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy.
One day after federal prosecutors cleared veteran officers James Haskel and Anthony Clay in the Sept. 17 shooting death of DeOnte Rawlings, Fenty was asked to respond for the officers' demand for an apology.
The officers said Fenty "betrayed" them in news conferences after DeOnte's death by not vouching for them. They were incensed Fenty handed over the microphone to DeOnte's sisters at one press event, allowing them to berate the police in front of federal prosecutors.
Fenty referred reporters to a brief statement he issued Thursday, in which he referred to prosecutors' decision not to prosecute Clay and Haskel as an "opinion." He said he had some "general" remarks to add.
"There's not a person in this city who doesn't feel that any loss of life is tragic," Fenty said, sending his "condolences" to DeOnte's family. "And the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department are truly amazing."
DeOnte was killed after a running gun battle with the off-duty officers. The boy was sitting on a minibike that Haskel thought had been stolen from his home.
The shooting has divided neighbors from the police department and police officers from city leaders. For some, Clay and Haskel were brutish cops who gunned down a little boy and then were given a free pass by the federal establishment. For others, Clay and Haskel were hard-working officers victimized by demagogues.
The furor over DeOnte's death has put the mayor in a bind. The boy's family has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the city and will likely use the mayor's comments as evidence. Clay and Haskel are still facing administrative discipline but have hinted broadly that they may file a suit of their own.
Police union President Kristopher K. Baumann said Fenty has lost credibility with the city's officers.
"It's real easy to give out sound bites when the cameras around, but what you're measured on is what you do when the pressure is on," Baumann said. "And we've already taken our measure."
 Not ranked |
 EMAIL ME THIS STORY |
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:24 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "Fenty says no apology to officers over teen's killing"
Report as inappropriate
8:56 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008
re: "Fenty says no apology to officers over teen's killing"
Report as inappropriate
6:30 AM MST on Sun., May. 4, 2008
re: "Fenty says no apology to officers over teen's killing"
Report as inappropriate
8:20 AM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008
re: "Fenty says no apology to officers over teen's killing"
Report as inappropriate
6:28 AM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008
re: "Fenty says no apology to officers over teen's killing"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
This mayor needs to resign. I think what he did was wrong under any circumstances but to take the stand he did, before the investigation was even completed, is unconscionable. Now he is not even man enough to apologize after an independent agency cleared the officers. I hope the FOP does everything in its power to make sure he is not re-elected.
1 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Most police officers are outstanding people a credit to their uniform, But some are nothing more than brutes in uniform, we see examples every day of thier brutality.
4 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I'm waiting for next election to vote Fenty out.
3 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Obesrver from across the river said:
Mayor Fenty's inexperience has been showing in lots of areas, and this is yet another. Perhaps this will be a lesson to him and a reminder that he is a leader for ALL of his city and that he must keep his comments in the neutral zone until all the facts are in. His lack of support for the policemen who serve and protect his city is appalling and the possible ramifications are disturbing to think about.
3 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Dc Resident said:
Fenty has lost my confidence in him. when you are too big to apologize for being a jerk, it shows your true Character. This case was solved a long time ago, they are just sparing the Mayor further embarassment.When you involved your self in incidents in which you have insufficeant facts you get mud in your face. I hope he learn a lesson. The Mayor should go back to that same neighborhood and get those wana be parents to take control of their children. All the mayor have to do is to go through the neighborhood unanounced and he will see for his self all of the future D'eonte's who do not attend school, rob and terrorize the neighborhood.
9 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree