Federal Charges Filed in the Danziger Bridge Massacre
It looks as though the Feds have brought charges against the real shooters of the Danziger Bridge Massacre. This has been a long time coming. I first blogged on this monumental abuse of police authority five years ago. Now, finally, the death penalty is a possibility.
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One cannot help but wonder if the usual antagonists failed to get behind the push for justice in this case because of the difficulty in painting it as a racial killing. Exactly fifty percent of the gun men are black. The current US Attorney General is certainly no friend of gun owners or free thinking Americans, but I will give credit where it is due. His department got this one right.Labels: Danziger Bridge
posted by Xavier at 8:10 AM
21 Comments:
I was about to email you this. Anyway, here's a link to a news story.
If these charges are proven, as well as others filed,relative to the aftermath of Katrina, I am of the belief that the NOPD should be shut down and the state should take over those duties completely in perpetuity. The NOPD has had a reputation for corruption, rights violations, and even suspected murders, for years.
My guess is though that real justice in this particular case will never be achieved and that while some will be prosecuted and convicted rightfully, others will be wrongfully convicted and yet others will get off free and clear, some rightly so and others wrongly so. It will wind up being one of the biggest legal Magillas for years to come.
Great news. I'll try to keep my cynicism in line, but I'm happy to hear that federal charges have finally been filed.
tweaker
I do not envy the jurors, it'll be a tough week no matter how the evidence falls.
"His department got this one right."
So far.
I'll withhold judgment till there's a conviction and sentencing. The new black panthers were guilty, but then Holder's DOJ dropped it.
Wasn't this one of the events that prompted you to start this blog?
Antibubba
Yeah federal charges were a must...they deserve it.
Think we can blackmail Xavier into posting something by threatening to put itching powder on the earpieces of his stethoscope?
People going through blog withdrawal can be led to do some crazy things.
We miss your posts. Hope all is OK.
All is A-OK Anon......
Hey Xavier
It Brian. Long time reader and fan.
Ive got two things for you.
I'm going to bug you yet again about going to Chief AJs shooting camp there in Louisiana. U will have more fun than should be allowed.
Ok on to the biggie. Ive got a link to a former Navy photographer, who is now a professional photographer, and some photos she took of her brother in laws newborn child, he also is my coworker and like me a Marine. http://andrealeighphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/celia-elizabeth-sneak-peaks.html
Hope you enjoy. I thought the photos were excellent
Xavier,
I wonder if I could rouse you from your very well-deserved rest to post on a subject that has recently come up for me.
My grandfather—a WWII veteran and an old farmboy, has begun developing dementia. While we are enjoying our remaining time with him, his recent behavior has caused us to take some protective measures, particularly given his firearm ownership.
My grandmother awoke one night not long ago to find him in the living room of their home with his only remaining firearm—an old 16 gauge single barrel—loaded hammer cocked, and ready to fire. He was utterly convinced that someone was attempting to break into the front door of his home and it took my grandmother quite some time to convince him to unload and put down the weapon. This was a wakeup call for the whole family about the state of his dementia and the danger he could be to others.
The possibility of taking the firearm was raised and he reacted very, very negatively. The shotgun was briefly "misplaced" and he became quite angry until it was "found". As with many seniors who suffer from dementia, he is extremely resentful of anyone trying to take away his adult rights. I can appreciate this, and I had no desire to offend his pride. I can't stand to see a man in his 80's treated like a child. Ultimately, we decided that I would disable the weapon's firing mechanism. The shotgun is now little more than a club. As it has been more than a decade since the last time he actually went shooting, the odds that he will discover this are very slim. I hope I've made the right call and allowed him to keep his dignity while ensuring the safety of others.
Given your nursing experience, particularly in home care nursing, I wonder if you could share any of your insights on the best way to handle senior citizens and firearms. I can imagine that there are many others who have had experiences similar to mine and could benefit from your knowledge.
All the best, and I certainly hope all is well,
- Long-time reader
http://neworleans.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/no092310.htm
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2010 United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Louisiana
Contact: (504) 680-3000
Former New Orleans Police Detective Sentenced in Connection with Shootings on the Danizger Bridge
NEW ORLEANS, LA—Jeffrey Lehrmann, a former New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detective, was sentenced today to three years in prison for misprision of a felony in connection with the cover-up of two police-involved shootings on the Danziger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that left two civilians dead and four others seriously injured. Lehrmann entered a guilty plea on March 11, 2010, for concealing a known felony by failing to report a conspiracy to obstruct justice in the investigation of these shootings.
According to court documents, Lehrmann learned from an NOPD supervisor (the investigator) that an officer on the bridge “shot an innocent man.” Lehrmann then concluded that the shooting on the bridge was legally unjustified. Lehrmann admitted that he participated with his supervisors in the creation of a report that included false statements by the officers involved in the shootings; false claims about a gun that had been planted by the investigator; and fabricated statements from witnesses who did not exist. Lehrmann also admitted that the report on the investigation included false statements that had allegedly been given by two of the victims from the shooting.
According to the factual basis submitted at the time of his guilty plea, Lehrmann admitted that the NOPD report of the incident contained a false claim that the investigator returned to the bridge the day after the shooting and found a gun in the grass on the east side of the bridge. According to Lehrmann, sometime after the shootings on the Danziger Bridge, he and two sergeants drove with the investigator to the investigator’s home, where the investigator retrieved a bag from his garage. When the investigator was asked what was in the bag, he responded, “a ham sandwich.” Lehrmann then looked in the bag and saw a gun that would be used in the NOPD’s investigation of the Danziger Bridge shootings. Once the investigator assured Lehrmann and the sergeants that the gun was “clean,” meaning that it could not be traced to another crime, they all went along with the plan to plant the gun.
This case, which is ongoing, is being investigated by the New Orleans Field Office of the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Trial Attorney Forrest Christian of the Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2010 United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Louisiana
Contact: (504) 680-3000
Former New Orleans Police Detective Sentenced in Connection with Shootings on the Danizger Bridge
NEW ORLEANS, LA—Jeffrey Lehrmann, a former New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detective, was sentenced today to three years in prison for misprision of a felony in connection with the cover-up of two police-involved shootings on the Danziger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that left two civilians dead and four others seriously injured. Lehrmann entered a guilty plea on March 11, 2010, for concealing a known felony by failing to report a conspiracy to obstruct justice in the investigation of these shootings.
According to court documents, Lehrmann learned from an NOPD supervisor (the investigator) that an officer on the bridge “shot an innocent man.” Lehrmann then concluded that the shooting on the bridge was legally unjustified. Lehrmann admitted that he participated with his supervisors in the creation of a report that included false statements by the officers involved in the shootings; false claims about a gun that had been planted by the investigator; and fabricated statements from witnesses who did not exist. Lehrmann also admitted that the report on the investigation included false statements that had allegedly been given by two of the victims from the shooting.
According to the factual basis submitted at the time of his guilty plea, Lehrmann admitted that the NOPD report of the incident contained a false claim that the investigator returned to the bridge the day after the shooting and found a gun in the grass on the east side of the bridge. According to Lehrmann, sometime after the shootings on the Danziger Bridge, he and two sergeants drove with the investigator to the investigator’s home, where the investigator retrieved a bag from his garage. When the investigator was asked what was in the bag, he responded, “a ham sandwich.” Lehrmann then looked in the bag and saw a gun that would be used in the NOPD’s investigation of the Danziger Bridge shootings. Once the investigator assured Lehrmann and the sergeants that the gun was “clean,” meaning that it could not be traced to another crime, they all went along with the plan to plant the gun.
This case, which is ongoing, is being investigated by the New Orleans Field Office of the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Trial Attorney Forrest Christian of the Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Three years?
What a joke this legal system is.
At last they got federal charges. Justice must be made.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Happy Thanksgiving, Xavier. Hope you and yours are well.
Antibubba
HEADLINE:
"3 US Police Found Guilty in Katrina Shooting Death"
"A U.S. federal jury has convicted three current and former police officers for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana in connection with the 2005 shooting death of a man in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. . . ."
Go here for rest of story:
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2010/12/10/3-us-police-found-guilty-in-katrina-shooting-death/
Merry Christmas, Xavier and family.
Hope y'all are well.
I am still having fun with things you have taught me over the years. I am only seventy-two, and have many miles to travel. But it is lonely without you as my companion.
gnholbrook
Just another reminder that there's nothing more dangerous for a law-abiding citizen to encounter in New Orleans than an NOPD officer.
of course i think it is a great news that federal charges finally filled it provide great relief.
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