Though attention has been focused on the shooting of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri over the last several weeks, a case that has many similarities is also the subject of controversy here in the Southland.
Anya Slaughter lost her teenage son in 2012 when he was shot and killed by the Pasadena city police. According to a recent Los Angeles Times story, she is aggressively seeking the release of the findings of an independent investigation into the shooting. Kendrec McDade was nineteen when he was shot and killed. According to the Times, police believed McDade was carrying a gun based upon information from a 911 call. Police later learned that McDade was not armed.
For over a year, since the report was completed, it has been unreleased to the public. On Tuesday September 9, the family took a step closer to getting access to the report. Slaughter and several supporters asked a County judge to lift the order that prevents the report from being released.
This case and the Ferguson case bring up important questions regarding police transparency. Of course issues of privacy should be taken seriously but transparency should be the standard by which all police departments operate. In too many instances, the opposite seems to be the default position of some law enforcement agencies.