At Last.........
Seven New Orleans police officers were indicted today on a variety of murder and attempted murder charges arising from misguided use of deadly force on the Danziger Bridge in New Orleans, six days after hurricane Katrina. The killings, locally known as the Danziger Bridge Massacre, left two innocent people dead and four more seriously wounded, as they were trying to escape the ravages of the storm. 
Today, the state grand jury finally called bullshit on the New Orleans Police Department's version of what happened on Sept. 4, 2005. The killings have been portrayed by the officers involved, the NOPD, and the MSM as an appropriate response to sniper fire at rescue workers near the bridge in eastern New Orleans. The dead victims have been demonized as criminal snipers. The injured survivors fled New Orleans in the aftermath, and gained little exposure in the press as they tried to tell their story. The facts demonstrate that the only people shooting at people that day were officers of the law. Indeed, the grand jury cleared Lance Madison, a man whom police had arrested that day andbooked framed with attempted first degree murder for supposedly shooting at law enforcement. Lance Madison had no firearm. No person in his group had a firearm.
Four police officers, Sgt. Kenneth Bowen, Sgt. Robert Gisevius, Officer Anthony Villavaso, and Officer Robert Faulcon, were charged with the first degree murder of James Brissette, a 19 year old man. Faulcon was also charged with the first degree murder of Ronald Madison, a 40 year old mentally retarded man who was shot seven times in the back. Three additional officers at the scene that day were also indicted on charges of attempted murder.
"We cannot allow our police officers to shoot and kill our citizens without justification, like rabid dogs," District Attorney Eddie Jordan said in a news release. "The rules governing lethal force are not suspended in an emergency. Everyone, including police, must abide by the law of the land." Damn right. Well said Mr. Jordan.
More information, including autopsy reports.
Today, the state grand jury finally called bullshit on the New Orleans Police Department's version of what happened on Sept. 4, 2005. The killings have been portrayed by the officers involved, the NOPD, and the MSM as an appropriate response to sniper fire at rescue workers near the bridge in eastern New Orleans. The dead victims have been demonized as criminal snipers. The injured survivors fled New Orleans in the aftermath, and gained little exposure in the press as they tried to tell their story. The facts demonstrate that the only people shooting at people that day were officers of the law. Indeed, the grand jury cleared Lance Madison, a man whom police had arrested that day and
Four police officers, Sgt. Kenneth Bowen, Sgt. Robert Gisevius, Officer Anthony Villavaso, and Officer Robert Faulcon, were charged with the first degree murder of James Brissette, a 19 year old man. Faulcon was also charged with the first degree murder of Ronald Madison, a 40 year old mentally retarded man who was shot seven times in the back. Three additional officers at the scene that day were also indicted on charges of attempted murder.
"We cannot allow our police officers to shoot and kill our citizens without justification, like rabid dogs," District Attorney Eddie Jordan said in a news release. "The rules governing lethal force are not suspended in an emergency. Everyone, including police, must abide by the law of the land." Damn right. Well said Mr. Jordan.
More information, including autopsy reports.
Labels: Danziger Bridge, New Orleans
posted by Xavier at 6:52 PM
6 Comments:
Unfortunately, the police are drawn from the general population; and we all know that the general population contains an alarmingly high number of people who might not be described as "good people." Add to this the culture of fear that the U.S. is arguably living in right now, splash a bit of natural disaster (don't forget the sense of superiority that some police officers and officials have, especially when it comes to the right to bear arms) and shake vigorously and I think you have a cocktail of both trouble in the populace, and possible abuse of the situation by "peace officers."
At least we are seing people standing up against this kind of stuff. Louisiana Grand Jury, I salute you! Making abuses of power known and punishing them is the duty of the American people. We have to remember that the government here is supposed to be of, by, and for the people; not of, by, and for the elected official/appointed bureaucrat/lackey/crony/ et cetera.
In sum, good job guys.
Good news, indeed. The only question is what took so long?
I lived in Nola in the late 70's and have been a frequent visitor ever since - I love the place. However, it's widely known that NOPD is one of the most corrupt and brutish police forces in the country.
I don't want to disparage all NOPD officers here. I'm sure many behaved heroically in unimaginable conditions post-Katrina. But these shootings, the 1/3 job abandonment rate and the gun confiscations illustrate what citizens have known for decades - avoid any contact with NOPD if you can possibly can. To do otherwise is to risk your life.
Good news, indeed. The only question is what took so long?
I lived in Nola in the late 70's and have been a frequent visitor ever since - I love the place. However, it's widely known that NOPD is one of the most corrupt and brutish police forces in the country.
I don't want to disparage all NOPD officers here. I'm sure many behaved heroically in unimaginable conditions post-Katrina. But these shootings, the 1/3 job abandonment rate and the gun confiscations illustrate what citizens have known for decades - avoid any contact with NOPD if you can possibly can. To do otherwise is to risk your life.
"The rules governing lethal force are not suspended in an emergency."
Yet interestingly, the citizens constitutional right to defense and the sanctity of peoples homes are suspended.
I am not complaining by any means. This is a good post and I appreciate getting the information out. I am an FFL and CHL instructor in TX and many of my customers and associates believe the "authorities" can do no wrong. I copy the http address of posts like these and forward to some of those customers and friends. Often I don't forward to half or better because of the language in many posts I know they would find offensive. "BULLBUTTER" for instance wouldn't bother anyone and I could get the message out to more folks. Again, I'm not complaining,,just making a point that I would like to get information out to more folks. Thanks. Zane you are absolutely right. It is a crying out loud shame that a "bully" personality gravitates toward law enforcement and the "good ones" are not cleaning up their own ranks. A friend teaches at a small cummunity college and tells me that, "you can't believe the rif raf & thugs that are signing up for classes wanting to be LEO's".
AGPILOT
Second time that one of these officers has been up on murder charges, BTW.
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