Investigate Systemic Police Misconduct at the Tuscaloosa Police Department!

Recent incidents involving the Tuscaloosa Police Department have brought to light the need for an outside agency to investigate possible police misconduct.

On November 2, 2015 a video showing University of Alabama student Brandon White beating a cat was released online, by Mr. White. Tuscaloosa police confirmed that they received a report about the video Monday night from someone who saw it on Twitter. The video shows Brandon White holding the cat from its head while he violently beats it with a belt. Numerous calls and emails have been made to the Tuscaloosa Police department asking them to arrest Mr. White and check on the welfare of the cat. On November 9th, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson held a press conference and stated that the police had made contact with Mr. White and his mother, but no arrest has been made and police have yet to retrieve the abused animal. Mr. White's mother is an officer with the University of West Alabama and seems to be playing a integral part in the leniency shown by the Tuscaloosa PD towards Brandon. As of yet no warrant has even been issued for Brandon's arrest, Chief Steve Anderson stated that without knowing when and where the incident took place they cannot obtain a warrant. This is false, according to the law, it's at the police department's discretion whether probable cause exists to arrest. In most cases, video evidence of a crime being committed is enough probable cause to arrest someone. The only plausible reason this is not is because of the connections of his mother.

On November 8, 2015 at 3:19am Tuscaloosa police responded to a loud noise complaint at an apartment complex. Somehow a simple noise complaint soon escalated into a beatdown of three University of Alabama students by officers who are sworn to protect and serve, but seem to misunderstand what that entails. At least a dozen officers showed up at the scene and multiple videos document the brutality of the officers actions toward the students. At the November 9th press conference Chief Anderson stated he was deeply disturbed and disappointed in the way the officers responded. He contacted internal affairs and they began an investigation. Three of the officers (James Kent, Phillip Champion and Gregory Pimm) have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the internal investigation.

In July a man collapsed and died after being pepper-sprayed during an arrest. Officers attempted to revive Anthony Ware, but were slow to do so because they thought Mr. Ware was faking. Days later Chief Anderson asked the FBI to conduct an independent investigation. In August, officers responding to an assault call shot and killed Jeffory Tevis, 50, who attacked an officer with a metal spoon. All of these incidents illustrate the need for an outside agency to conduct an investigation into the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Please sign and share if you agree.