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New Orleans Officers Charged in Post-Katrina Deaths

By Jeralyn, Section Misconduct
Posted on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 07:55:00 AM EST
Tags: New Orleans, Katrina, police misconduct (all tags)
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The Obama Adminisration may be serious about ramping up the civil rights division.

Six New Orleans police officers have been charged in the post-Kaatrina deaths of unarmed civilians on the Danziger Bridge on September 4, 2005.

The 27 count Indictment alleges some ugly facts. Five other former police officers have pleaded guilty and admitted that they participated in a conspiracy to obstruct justice and cover up what happened that date.

The four officers charged with killing civilians face maximum penalties of life in prison or the death penalty. The officers face additional penalties for the remaining counts, which include charges related to a conspiracy to cover up what had happened on the bridge, and conspiracies to file charges against two of the victims, Lance Madison and Jose Holmes, on the basis of false evidence.

The other two face 70 and 120 years.

The New York Times reports eight other incidents of alleged police misconduct are still under investigation.

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    New Orleans Officers Charged in Post-Katrina Deaths | 32 comments (32 topical)

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    Finally (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 10:52:18 AM EST
    I never thought we would see this day though.  I had sort of given up.

    Huge kudos to the Obama administration (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 11:25:46 AM EST
    for this too.  The Bush administration wasn't going to do anything, not when they were hiring the Blackwater army to go shoot looters.  They were fine with a few dead people and law enforcement shooting the place up in between stealing whatever wasn't nailed down.  This one goes in the thank you Barack and Holder column.

    The Feds started their investigation (none / 0) (#6)
    by BTAL on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 12:51:27 PM EST
    in the fall of 2008.  So, the Bush DOJ initiated and the Obama DOJ continued it.

    The date info is in the linked article.

    Parent

    There is a big (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by JamesTX on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 01:10:16 PM EST
    difference between initiating and investigation and an indictment. An investigation is always initiated, and an exoneration issued. I think it's fair to say this outcome would have been different under the previous administration.

    Parent
    And federal indictments happen (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by BTAL on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 01:31:07 PM EST
    in the blink of an eye and the wave of the magic wand.

    It is not "fair to say" but only opinion and speculation.

    I recognize the Bush administration stepped up to fill the void/failure of the local and state agencies and applaud the Obama DOJ for finishing the job.  The individuals need to be tried, convicted and punished.  

    An attempt make this an Obama DOJ pulling victory from the jaws of defeat opens the NBPP can of worms.

    Parent

    Lo (none / 0) (#19)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 03:10:20 PM EST
    The incident happened in 2005. NOLA PD was notorious and had been investigated since the 1990's.

    For the Bush DOJ to wait 3 years, until the second to last month that the GOP would control them is outrageous.

    Nothing BushCo did regarding the NOLA disaster was honorable.

    He hated those people, and loved the job that the NOLA cops were doing. They murdered as many blacks in a few weeks as were murdered in a whole year.

    Parent

    Nonsense (none / 0) (#20)
    by BTAL on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 03:18:13 PM EST
    The locals take the first bite at the law enforcement apple.  Then the state steps in and screws the pooch.  

    The feds followed up in the correct order.  Little issues like states rights/responsibilities and double jeopardy come to bear.

    The rest of your hate comments are drivel.

    Parent

    OK (none / 0) (#25)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 03:31:36 PM EST
    Well the Obama DOJ did not wait for BP to be acquitted on a state level to start a DOJ investigation.

    As your folks like to say this is Obama's Katerina.

    Parent

    Big difference (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by BTAL on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 03:46:56 PM EST
    The BP issue occurred in federal waters.  No local or state jurisdiction.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#30)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 14, 2010 at 04:14:47 PM EST
    Bush's DOJ worked hard to protect the environment and BushCo cronies...  with quality people like Monica Goodling overseeing the hiring, what did anyone expect..


    Parent
    OK (none / 0) (