US says Ronald Greene’s death shows Louisiana police used excessive force By Reuters

Posted by Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The 2019 fatal arrest of unarmed motorist Ronald Greene and its aftermath exposed serious flaws in the Louisiana State Police, such as the use of excessive force and lack accountability, the US Department of Justice said in a report released on Friday.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Greene, 49, died in May 2019 on the side of a highway in north Louisiana after a violent confrontation with officers that followed a high-speed chase. His death also fueled a national debate about police brutality, particularly against Black men.

Authorities initially said Greene died while driving his car, but body camera footage that was later released revealed white officers pulling over and punching Greene, who was screaming in terror.

ADD THE ESSENTIALS

“Mr. Greene’s death and its aftermath demonstrated a serious failure at LSP – excessive power, inadequate management, ineffective training, and a breakdown in accountability,” the Justice Department said.

“These errors were not isolated, but part of a larger pattern or practice of law enforcement that deprives the people of Louisiana of their constitutional rights,” the 32-page report added.

The report said the Justice Department “has reasonable cause to believe that the Louisiana State Police is engaging in a national pattern or practice of using excessive force.”

Louisiana’s Republican Governor, Jeff Landry, criticized the report, saying it attempted to “undercut LSP’s service and conduct.”

The Justice Department’s Jan. 16 report did not say whether it would take any action.

EXPECTATION

The report says the Department of Justice has looked into whether the police have been involved in racist policing but so far has only found findings of excessive force.

Greene’s family said they were told on Tuesday that federal prosecutors would not press charges in his death.

The Justice Department report acknowledged that police made changes after Greene’s death that led to improvements but recommended other improvements such as improved training, particularly regarding the use of force to highlight other non-violent behaviors. before it uses power.