The six officers involved in the shooting of Alonzo Heyward early Saturday morning are on seven days administrative leave. Officers Lauren Bacha, Deborah Dennison, Zachery Moody, George Romero, William Salyers, and Bryan Wood were placed on paid leave according to Chattanooga Police Department policy. The investigation of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Heyward’s death is underway with the medical examination scheduled for today.
The six officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alonzo Heyward early Saturday morning were placed on administrative paid leave for seven days pending the results of the investigation and in accordance with Chattanooga Police Department policy.
According to a news release from the department, those officers are:
Deborah Dennison, hired in 1998 as a dispatcher and became an officer Feb. 9, 2007; Lauren Bacha, hired Oct. 19, 2007; Zachery Moody, hired Aug. 6, 2004; George Romero, hired Oct. 19, 2007; William Salyers, hired June 9, 2006; and Bryan Wood, hired July 29, 2002.
The Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an examination of Mr. Heyward’s body today, Chattanooga police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary said.
Mr. Heyward was shot after officers attempted to use a Taser on him but were unsuccessful. Preliminary reports indicated the incident was “suicide by cop,” Sgt. Weary said.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
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I was in Chattanooga for the Breaching Symposium.
CPD Officers - Your fellow brothers and sisters up north are glad that you are alive.
I pray that the Lord will grant you His peace in the days ahead.
1*,
jd
The law enforcement is helping to perpetuate violence in America; quick to take a life and band together to fabricate the facts to protect themselves from consequences.
"It's your word, although I believe you, against the police officers word. The judge and jury are bias to the judicial system," an attorney once told me. There can be a dozen eyewitnesses and even video tape to contradict the offical report, but doesn't guarantee justice will be fair.
Killings of poor minorities in inner-cities are always justified by resulting investigations performed by their own department. Even if a gun is present, it doesn't mean it belonged to the victim or that the victim had it drawn to police. Police are suppose to make efforts to protect citizen; even from themselves. Only in the minority community is the first recourse to disarm an alleged assailant is to kill him.
I have personally witnessed and been a victim of unlawful enforcement on many occasions- subject to many stops and unlawful searches. If I question police the least little bit, I received traffic violations even when they were not warranted. Once I tried to assert my rights and the officer hand-cuffed me and left me to stand in danger on the side of a busy highway while he sat in his car. I received no cooperation from law enforcement when I tried to file a complaint. My first and only arrest happened five years ago. Officer Nicholas Allen #123 of the arrested me after, what was likely, a racially motivated stop and search of my person, record, and vehicle came up empty. I questioned him without answers and he fabricated a DUI to arrest me. I listened to advice and held my silence throughout most of the ordeal. Even after I was threatened with a year jail sentence if I didn't accept a plea, I still refused a plea and demanded a trial. At times it felt that my own attorney was working against me than for me. He even said, "you're crazy", when I said I'd rather spend a year in jail before I accept a plea. After five years in the judicial system, my charges were dismissed.
These stops and incidents are unacceptable. I worry about all the ones who are less fortunate than me. Too often, unarmed black males are being shoot by law enforcement as a result. My uncle, John Eric Henderson, was shot during a traffic stop. I believe he was a victim and his death didn't have to happen. I'm astounded that these are not isolated incidents, but everyday occurrences in our country. Conscious and unconscious race stereotypes or biases lead to people of color disproportionately being stopped and harassed by law enforcement which further perpetuates violence and racial inharmony in America. I know law enforcement put their life on line everyday to serve and protect us of harm and I respect them for their dedication, but it's know excuse for the reckless taking of life; be it an armed or unarmed man.