DOJ Greene Investigation Overdue

The Department of Justice is about to undertake its so-called “pattern of practice” into the Louisiana State Police, the state’s premiere law enforcement agency. The investigation will center around people who have alleged that LSP has engaged in “discrimination and brutality” patterns on its citizens, particularly Black people. Though there have been allegations of LSP misconduct over the last decade, it has been the disturbing videos of LSP Troopers savagely beating Monroe native Ronald Greene three years ago that has kept LSP in the spotlight. One that it rather not be in. The fact that there is no resolution in the Greene’s case, has kept LSP on its heels trying to defend that what Troopers did to Greene was “awful, but lawful” and would have stayed that way if not for the videos. Officials at LSP said they “welcome” the investigation into its practices/policies, but the shadow of a coverup over Greene’s death, as some officials believe that Greene was “tortured and murdered”. DOJ is not alone in getting to the bottom of what happened to Greene, as Union/Lincoln Parishes DA John Belton is about to begin his investigation into Greene’s death, as he soon hopes to impanel a special grand jury, as DOJ/FBI will hand over information from Greene’s case. Depending on how fast Belton proceeds, it may be possible for him to bring charges before DOJ or right after them since they both will have the same information. Then justice for those who have alleged infractions against LSP, resolutions for their cases have been moving at a snail’s pace. It has been three years and counting and out of the numerous investigations going on simultaneously, no trooper has gone to trial. Many believe that after three years, the Greene case should have reached a conclusion. As a representative from the Baton Rouge chapter of the NAACP said, it’s been “too long” and the Greene family “deserves more”. The question of whether LSP Troopers engaged in excessive force more aggressively and whether it also practiced “racial discriminatory policing” will be a part of DOJ’s investigation. There have been cases where excessive force was used doing minor traffic violations, including where individuals were already handcuffed. In some cases with people who have knowledge of some of the alleged abuse, there were reports of severe injuries where we know one man died from his injuries. As the investigations conducted by DOJ and AG Belton go their separate ways, the word “trust” will be mentioned several times. That is because people in the community, especially the Black community need something in which to believe. Oftentimes, Black citizens are let down because some in charge of investigations do not go far enough or there does not seem to be the same kind of zeal when law enforcement officers are involved. Gov. John Bel Edwards and LSP Supt. Lamar Davis, of whom Edwards appointed to the post, have both said that they “welcome” DOJ’s investigation into the “patterns/practices of LSP.” A statement from the two men said that it is “troubling” that allegations of “systemic misconduct exists”, but it is “absolutely critical” that all Louisianans, especially African Americans and other people of color, “have their faith and confidence in public safety officers restored”. That sounded as if the Supt. and Governor were not only apologizing, but also acknowledging that there is a problem in the Black community with police officers, whether they be LSP or the local sheriff. The Supt. And the Governor both know that the trust that they ask of Black people must in earned not in words, but in action. Justice delayed (as in Greene’s case) is justice denied. It has happened before.