Local law enforcement officials have held several meetings to discuss creating an “officer-involved shooting investigation team,” says East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III.
The team likely would include assistant district attorneys, Baton Rouge Police, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police and the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office, Moore says.
“Historically, if the Baton Rouge Police Department [for example] has a shooting, they investigate their own shooting,” Moore says. “That would often lead to, ‘Hey, you just covered up for your own officer.’”
An investigation by a team with representatives from multiple agencies—including people of varying races and backgrounds—might have more credibility with the public, Moore says.
The discussions predate the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, which inspired protests and, after a grand jury chose not to indict the responsible officer, riots. Moore says if a similar incident happened in Baton Rouge, he would expect protests by people “from all over the nation.”
But, should an event of that nature take place, Moore says he doesn’t think Baton Rouge itself would become the racially charged “powder keg” that Ferguson turned out to be, in part because Baton Rouge’s law enforcement and political leadership are more diverse.
“I think we’re better prepared, given the people that we have and the diversity that we have,” he says. “I know that we would handle it better.”
Still, Moore concedes that there is mistrust between law enforcement and some segments of the community. That’s one reason the Baton Rouge Violence Elimination Project, or BRAVE, which targets violent criminal groups in specific ZIP codes, also includes public outreach and efforts to connect the needy with social services.
“We need to find ways to mend fences and have better relations,” he says. “That’s what we are working on now, to try to build those lines of communication.” —David Jacobs
