As the city investigates an Auburn police officer striking what appears to be a defenseless woman on video last week, local civil rights leaders are critical of the police department for its explanation of the officer's actions and for not taking them off patrol.
The widely shared video, recorded Aug. 14, shows city resident Chelci C. Love, 39, being arrested outside of West Middle School Apartments following a Child Protective Services call. While being restrained at her arms by two police officers, a third officer punches her in the head several times.
Auburn Police Department Chief James Slayton told 人兽性交 on Wednesday that reports from all three officers should be completed by Friday. Several department administrators, including him, will read the reports and watch the 80-plus minutes of body camera footage from each officer at the scene. Slayton said he has already seen the footage.
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人兽性交 has filed a Freedom of Information Law request for the footage.
A video posted on Facebook shows an Auburn police officer punching Chelci C. Love during an arrest Wednesday.
The Rev. Robert Wilson, chairman of the Auburn Human Rights Commission, told 人兽性交 that when he contacted the department about the video, he was told the officer was aiming for a pressure point on Love's head to force her to release her child from her legs. Wilson called the explanation "ludicrous."
Asked by 人兽性交 about the explanation, Slayton said officers are taught pressure points and similar tactics in police academies for situations when a Taser or pepper spray can't be used. The police chief said he understands those techniques may appear unconventional or violent, or look like a "misuse of force."
Asked if he believed a pressure point tactic was used in Love's arrest, Slayton said that he still needed to read the officers' reports and that the officer would "dictate what he did and why he did it."
Slayton added that he has spoken for years about the importance of the police department being transparent with the public, and said it has communicated with local organizations such as the Human Rights Commission and the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the NAACP. But until the department completes its investigation, he continued, there isn't much it can share.
"We live by facts, and until we get all the facts, it's hard to answer questions," he said. "We will be transparent. Some people are patient and they know it takes time."
Melody Smith Johnson, a member of the local NAACP branch's executive committee and owner of downtown coworking space Melody's, addressed Auburn City Council about the incident for the second straight week on Thursday.聽
With fellow NAACP member Simone Callender standing alongside her, Smith Johnson said the organization is "deeply disappointed" in city officials because the officer who struck Love is still working. That sends a message to the community "that you don't care," she said.聽
While the organization understands that the investigation needs to be completed, it has called for the officer to be off the streets until then, Smith Johnson said.
"We don't want this man out on the streets, thinking and believing that he is above the law because no one is above the law," she said. "The only person being held accountable in this matter is the mother who was compelled to protect her child as your officer struck her several times."
Smith Johnson said the NAACP would continue speaking at council meetings every week, "as is our right, until justice is served."聽
A disturbing video showing a violent interaction between an Auburn woman and three city police officers demands a thorough review.
Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino and City Manager Jeff Dygert sent a joint statement to 人兽性交 on Friday, saying the city is still investigating the video and takes its responsibility to the community and everyone involved seriously.
"We acknowledge the video circulating social media has stirred emotions and caused some to question the necessity of the application of the techniques employed by our police officers," they said.
Giannettino and Dygert added that the city and its police department are committed to transparency, and that the investigation is almost complete.
"We聽ask for the community鈥檚 patience while we wrap things up. Upon completion, we will release all information we are legally required to in order for the community to also have a more complete understanding of the incident," they said.
Chelci Love could not be reached for comment by 人兽性交. She was charged with the misdemeanors of endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, and the violation of second-degree harassment.
Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.