FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2011
CONTACT: Laurel S. Marsh, (402) 476-8091,
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ACLU Nebraska Resumes Call for Independent Auditor
Statement of ACLU Nebraska Regarding the Video of Robert Wagner
LINCOLN - The safety of any community is entrusted in large part to those who police it. This relationship works because of the respect those employed to do the policing hold for the public as their collective employers, the professionalism with which the police execute their responsibilities, and the trust and confidence the public has in the police to do their jobs well.
Recent news reports and video on both CTI 22 and KETV showed Robert Wagner being surrounded by up to 9 Omaha Police officers and kicked. An article in the September 1, 2011 Omaha World Herald stated that Wagner was tased as police sought to subdue him. These images are disturbing, literally kicking someone who is already down. While we may not know the whole story, the images raise serious concern about police policies or the lack there of and the police's ability to treat all people fairly. The incident shown in the video rocks the trust of the community and erodes the exact confidence the community must provide in order for the police to work effectively.
It is precisely because we cannot know exactly what occurred outside of the camera’s range that we need a dispassionate, uninvolved, independent pair of eyes to investigate.
ACLU Nebraska calls upon the Omaha Police Department to bring in an outside investigator to make it clear to Omaha citizens that this matter is addressed fairly and neutrally. We further request that the City of Omaha, in order to ensure continued transparency and fairness of police practices, fill the open position of an independent Police Auditor immediately.
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ABOUT: ACLU Nebraska and its diverse membership work in courts, the legislature and our communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States and Nebraska guarantee everyone in this state.
