By Peter Dujardin and Ashley K. Speed
Daily Press
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News Police Chief Richard W. Myers said there’s “a national discussion going on among police leaders” these days on whether — and when — to make public the names of police officers who shoot and kill in the line of duty.
Myers addressed the issue at a news conference Wednesday in the death of Kawanza J. Beaty, 23, of Newport News, whom police killed July 4 after they say he pointed a sawed-off shotgun at a police officer during a pursuit.
Michael J. Muhammad, an activist from Norfolk speaking for Beaty’s family, has called for the “immediate release of the names of the officers” on the scene that day. “What we’re finding” around the country, he said, is that officers who shoot a person on the job often have done so before.
Myers declined Wednesday to release the name of the officer who shot and killed Beaty. The chief did, however, say he’s a narcotics detective and eight-year department veteran who has previously shot a suspect on the job.
Myers declined to say when the earlier shooting took place, whether that suspect was killed or injured, and whether the detective faced any department discipline over it.
He said the Newport News Police Department’s “historic policy and practice” — similar to many other local departments — is not to name officers being investigated.
“Our current policy prohibits the release prior to any criminal charges being filed,” Myers said.
Separately, he said, it’s been the long-standing policy of the Newport News commonwealth’s attorney’s office to release the names when the final prosecutor’s report — virtually always clearing the officer of criminal wrongdoing — is complete.
But those investigations can take many months.
In recent years, many around the country have contended that the names of officers involved in fatal shootings should become public — that citizens have the right to know which officers have shot and killed.
Myers is walking a fine line as police chief. That’s because while some in the public might want it, many of his 420 sworn police officers don’t want him to give out the names.
As he’s looked into the matter recently, Myers said at Wednesday’s news conference, he’s learned that many police departments “allow for some information release at some point in time.”
“We’ve also consulted with community leaders, including pastors known as the ‘Concerned Clergy,’ who have urged us to be fair and consistent and follow our policy the same in all cases,” he said. Another factor, he added, is whether there’s any “intelligence on threats to the officers involved.”
Myers said he has “taken all of these factors into consideration” and talked to Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn. Their joint decision, he said, is that when Gwynn announces his findings, “the name of the officer who fired the three shots may be released.”
In the meantime, Myers said he would provide “limited backgrounds” on the three officers at the scene that day — the narcotics detective who fired the three shots, as well as a canine officer and police sergeant.
The canine officer, Myers said, has 10 years with the force, and no prior shootings. The sergeant, he said, has nine years with the force and no prior shootings. “All three officers have completed mandatory psychological review,” with the detective still out on paid leave.
Copyright 2015 the Daily Press