Ya' Cousin Cleon
OG COUCH CORNER HUSTLA
Cincinnati police investigators said an officer who deployed a Taser to stop an 11-year-old girl from shoplifting violated the department’s use of force policy, but also found problems with his telling the girl: “You know, sweetheart, this is why there’s no grocery stores in the black community.”
The comment was caught on Officer Kevin Brown’s body camera and is the second time the officer is accused of making inappropriate comments while doing his job. Two years ago he was written up for using a homophobic slur in reference to an alleged domestic violence victim, though the woman did not hear him.
Councilman Wendell Young, a former police officer, said “I just don’t know if you have room on the police department for people like this. This guy, from what I am hearing, has serious issues. He apparently polices the way he feels.”
Young said he’s not cavalier about anyone’s employment, but said “there comes a time you have to cut your losses.”
Brown’s punishment is up to Police Chief Eliot Isaac, who will make a determination after an internal departmental hearing. Punishment could range from counseling to termination, and Brown would have a chance to appeal any decision.
Cincinnati police released a use of force report related to the Aug. 6 incident involving Brown, 55, who was working a theft prevention detail at a Kroger in the Spring Grove Village neighborhood of Cincinnati. Body camera footage was included in the release and shows the girl, who is African-American scared and crying as Taser barbs are taken from her back.
Brown, also African-American, violated four policies according to the report:
- The comment constituted prejudice.
- He did not turn on his body camera until after he deployed his Taser.
- He did not warn the girl he was going to use his Taser. He told her to stop three times as she was exiting the store, but did not warn that he was going to escalate his use of force.
- The incident wasn’t serious enough to deploy a Taser. Police investigators said officers should use the least amount of force necessary when dealing with juveniles.
Brown in his interview with police, according to the report, defended his statement regarding grocery stores. He believed the statement was supported by statistics and was not biased.
why would you tase an 11yr old girl.
