Over the weekend, officers from the Peoria Police Department responded to reports of shots fired in downtown Peoria. Video of the response of the officers and interaction between officers and community members widely circulated online, showing officers using force – including an officer kneeling on someone’s back or neck – against the gathered community members in an emotionally charged situation. Several arrests were reported at the scene.
The Peoria Police have issued a public statement in which they vow – clearly and directly – to find those involved in the shooting. But there is no such vow in terms of investigating the actions of the officers on the scene and whether they responded with appropriate and necessary force. Today, the ACLU of Illinois and the ACLU of Peoria Chapter called on Peoria Police to launch an independent, comprehensive investigation of the incident and be completely transparent of the entire incident.
The following can be attributed to the ACLU of Illinois and the ACLU of Peoria:
The events that took place on the early morning of Sunday, September 28th deserve a complete and thorough investigation. But such an exploration cannot be limited to identifying, arresting and prosecuting those who fired shots and injured at least two individuals. The video circulating online show Peoria Police officers using force – including kneeling on someone’s back or neck – in the emotional scene.
Illinois state law require all officers to utilize de-escalation techniques when engaging the public and regulate the sorts of techniques officers can use when taking someone into custody. The video available to the public raises serious questions as to whether these police officers were in compliance with the state law and department use of force policy.
The only answer for Peoria to strengthen confidence and faith with the entire Peoria community – all members of the Peoria community – is to empower an independent agency not connected with the Peoria Police Department to conduct a full, comprehensive investigation of the actions of the police in response to this incident. Police leadership should ensure that such an investigation explores what de-escalation tactics were used, whether the force used was appropriate and whether police officers appropriately intervened if an officer utilized any excessive force. The Peoria Police should pledge – today – to release the full and complete findings of that investigation and making the independent investigators available for questions from the media and members of the public.
Peoria residents want to build trust and strong relationship of cooperation with police in their community. But trust begins with transparency and full exploration. An independent investigation of the sort we call for would help address many years of mistrust and cynicism about policing in Peoria.
The ACLU of Illinois and the ACLU of Peoria wait for a full, public airing of the findings of this independent investigation.