Aftermath of tragic lethal force by police: How court cases help
For the families who have lost loved ones, it may seem that little has changed in how and when officers exercise lethal force, particularly against African-American men. And increasingly, many experts are concluding that the courts may be ill-equipped to lead the debate in how and whether policy reform is needed.
“My son loved this city, and this city killed my son and let the murderer get away with it,” a tearful Valerie Castile said last week, shortly after a jury acquitted St. Anthony, Minnesota, Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez of all charges relating to his fatal shooting of her son, Philando. Mr. Yanez was fired by the department because of the shooting.
“Let it be known that I believe in my heart that Betty Shelby got away with murder,” said Joseph Crutcher last month, shortly after a jury acquitted Officer Shelby, of the Tulsa, Oklahoma police department, of all charges relating to her fatal shooting of his son, Terence.