New DC police ‘use-of-force’ report says ‘weaknesses’ in department have ‘gotten worse’

 A new D.C. Auditor report reviewing four deadly use-of-force investigations from 2018 to 2019 outlines serious issues in the handling of the investigations, indicating previous findings may have been flawed.

The report was released on Tuesday, reviewing Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) internal investigations into the deaths of Jeffrey Price, Jr., D’Quan Young, Marqueese Alston, and Eric Carter.

Price, 22, died in 2018 after the illegal dirt bike was riding, collided with a D.C. police vehicle near Division Ave. NE and Fitch PL NE.

D.C. Police Union Chair called the report, a “political swipe” at their members. Gregg Pemberton wrote in part of a statement:

Mr. Bromwich seems to be engaging in an effort to discredit the decisions of the officers by hypercritically challenging minor aspects of the respective investigations. This speculative report with its overly broad observations that can only come with hindsight, is just another political swipe at the professional and responsible job our members engage in every day.

#NEW @ODCA_DC report outlines serious issues in 4 deadly @DCPoliceDept Use of Force investigations, analyzing the death investigations of Jeffrey Price, D’Quan Young, Marqueese Alston & Eric Carter (2018-2019). Here’s the report: https://t.co/vC5uRs8SA4

MPD’s response to @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/GKhXcR70Ul

— Stephanie Ramirez (@RamirezReports) March 23, 2021

In addition to the deficiencies noted, the report also suggests that the department appears to have been resistant or “unconcerned with remedying them.”The report’s recommendations include:

• Comprehensive investigation and analysis of the use of force incidents including actions by all officers leading up to the use of force and any and all opportunities for de-escalation
• Enhanced training for investigators who handle serious use of force cases
• Requiring the Use of Force Review Board (UFRB) to provide specific recommendations on training, policy, and best practices

Catherine Young, D’Quan Young’s mother, told FOX 5 this report was the first time she was ever shown details and able to read officer interviews in the case of her son’s death. Investigators say Young died in 2018 after exchanging gunfire with an off-duty police officer. The D.C. auditor report mentioned the following in Young’s case:

“But there is no evidence that Officer Wilson tried at any point to de-escalate his encounter with Mr. Young. Our review of the evidence showed that Officer Wilson failed to take advantage of numerous opportunities to do so, beginning with the initial verbal exchange and extending through to his following Mr. Young up on the sidewalk after their faceoff in the street. Officer Wilson did not identify himself as a police officer. He did not call for backup. He did not call 911.”

In 2018, investigators said Marqueese Alston, being chased by officers, exchanged fire with police and died from his wounds. The D.C. auditor report questions the pursuit policy here and also adds, “In addition, we saw no evidence that any officer actually checked Mr. Alston’s vital signs or otherwise attempted to render first aid, as required by MPD policy

Source: FOX 5 DC