Thursday, January 22, 2015

Records Of New Jersey Police Officers And Shooting Victim Are Scrutinized

Two Bridgeton police officers shot and killed Jerame Reid while his hands were up. One officer faced several complaints in the past, while another faced disciplinary action. The victim has been convicted of shooting at officers.

nj.com

A video of two New Jersey police officers fatally shooting a man with his hands up this week has drawn scrutiny to the past records of both the officers and victim.

A dashcam video released by the Bridgeton Police Department showed how two police officers shot and killed Jerame Reid, 36, during a traffic stop in December.

The footage appeared to show Reid raising his hands before being shot inside a car by officers Braheme Days and Roger Worley.

A handgun from the car was later recovered by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating the use of deadly force in the fatal shooting.

Cumberland County residents have filed several municipal complaints — all dismissed — against Days, who is black, saying he allegedly abused his power, the South Jersey Times reported.

The nine complaints, obtained by the South Jersey Times, were all dismissed in court.

Residents had complained about Days "bothering" and handcuffing them "for no reason." In one claim, listing Days as a defendant, resident Wilbert Pace said despite complying with police orders, he was handcuffed, put face-down on the ground and hit with pepper spray.

Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae rescued herself from taking part in the investigation, as she knew Days through his leadership position in the community. During Day's swearing-in ceremony in 2012, Webb-McRae described him as a "fine young man" with "excellent character."

Both the officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.