Police Not Releasing Name of Cop in Missouri Teen Shooting - East Idaho News
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Police Not Releasing Name of Cop in Missouri Teen Shooting

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GETTY 81214 PoliceTape?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1407862150452iStock/Thinkstock(FERGUSON, Mo.) — The police officer being investigated for the shooting death of unarmed Missouri teen Michael Brown will not be identified due to concerns over his safety, police said Tuesday.

Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson said there had been death threats made against the officer involved in the shooting, in which Brown, 18, was shot multiple times Saturday afternoon.

Jackson’s decision comes despite a call on Monday from Brown’s father, Michael Brown Sr., to identify the officer who shot his son several times, killing him.

“This person’s got to pay for this,” Brown’s father said.

“If the name of the victim is released, how is the name of the perpetrator not released? We cannot in good conscience ask for toxicology tests of Mr. Brown without asking for it of the officer,” said Jamal Bryant, a pastor who appeared at a press conference Tuesday with the Browns, their attorney Benjamin Crump, and the Reverend Al Sharpton.

“This doesn’t give the community confidence, it doesn’t illustrate transparence or convince the community that the police aren’t going to sweep this under the rug,” Crump said.

The decision to not identify the officer came after another officer’s name was released on social media as being the shooter, according to Jackson.

“We’ve been getting death threats as a result to that officer. Officer safety is why we are not releasing the name (of the officer who shot Brown.) It’s too volatile and dangerous. We think that the value of releasing his name is far outweighed by the safety at this point,” Jackson said.

The Browns and civil rights leaders also used the press conference Tuesday to urge supporters to remain calm and nonviolent in protesting the shooting. The pleas came after two nights in which protesters clashed with police and looted stores.

 “I just want justice for my son. I really do. I need justice for my son,” Michael Brown, Sr., said Tuesday. “I understand everybody has their own pains because they have losses too, but I need everyone to come together and do this the right way so we can get something done about this. No violence, man.”

Sharpton emphasized the family’s plea for non-violent protests.

“To become violent in Michael Brown’s name is to betray the gentle giant he was,” Sharpton said. “I know you’re angry. I know this is outrageous. When I saw that photo, the outrage rose up in me. But we cannot be more outraged than his mom and dad, and if they can hold their heads with dignity, then we can too.”

The town of Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, was filled with tear gas as police in riot gear fired rubber bullets Monday night to disperse protesters, renewing tensions after Brown’s shooting death on Saturday.

“We believe in the rule of the law but it’s got to work both ways,” Crump said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Sharpton, Crump and others said they would only trust a full federal investigation into the shooting. The FBI is reviewing the case, looking into possible civil rights violations, while the St. Louis County police department is the lead investigating agency.

Jackson offered additional details Tuesday about the violent encounter that led to Brown’s death.

“What I can tell you is it started out as a routine encounter with two young men walking on the street. They were asked to get on the sidewalk,” he said. “It quickly became a violent encounter and then became a fight, some kind of fight inside the car. Shots were fired. I don’t know how many.”

Jackson said that the officer has been placed on administrative leave and his gun will be kept by investigators as evidence, though he is not prevented from having another weapon.

The officer will have to undergo two psychological evaluations as part of his administrative leave.

“He feels terrible about whole thing. He did not come to work with intention of this happening. He came to work to serve the community. He’s sad and he is hurt. He’s doing okay. It’s a difficult thing,” the chief said.

Brown and a friend were walking to his grandmother’s house, when the friend says an unidentified officer asked them to get off the street. Police say one of the men fought the officer.

Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, says her son didn’t fight anyone.

“Just because he’s 6-foot (tall), black walking down the city street doesn’t mean he fit the profile,” McSpadden said.


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