FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2018
CONTACT
ACLU-TN Communications, (615) 320-7142
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the evening of July 26, a Metro Nashville police officer fatally shot Nashville resident Daniel Hambrick. The 25-year-old officer, Andrew Delke, was white and Hambrick, also 25, was Black. This week, the Davidson County District Attorney's Office released footage of the shooting. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating.
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee executive director Hedy Weinberg released the following statement in response:
"The disturbing video released by the Davidson County District Attorney's Office depicting the death of Daniel Hambrick at the hands of police as he ran away begs the question of whether Mr. Hambrick's tragic death was not only needless, but preventable.
Law enforcement officers too often resort to excessive force in interactions with Black and brown people, despite being charged with protecting and serving those people and communities. Devastatingly, these interactions are not new. The systemic targeting of and use of unnecessary force against people of color is woven into the fabric of our law enforcement institutions and stems from the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow in this country.
Our communities require and deserve strong, consistent mechanisms to provide accountability, so that officers are held accountable when they violate laws, policies and community trust.
Transformative changes in policing are critical. Ensuring that Black and brown Nashvillians are able to trust that our city's police officers will protect and serve communities of color, not abuse them, will require an ongoing and multi-dimensional effort.
The sharing of this footage is a step towards this transparency, and its shocking content underscores the immediate need for a thorough investigation into Mr. Hambrick's tragic death and for comprehensive review and continued oversight of police practices and policies."
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