NAACP criticizes decision not to charge officer in Taser incident
(Collage of screen captures from video)
(Harrisburg) — A midstate civil rights group is criticizing the decision not to criminally charge a police officer who used a Taser on an unarmed man earlier this summer.
In a statement, the Lancaster branch of the NAACP said the announcement from the Lancaster County District Attorney that he would not issue charges makes it clear the white officer will not be held accountable for “unnecessarily tasering” an African American man.
It said the city’s use of force policy fell short and violated citizens’ civil rights.
Video captured of the incident shows Officer Philip Bernot shocking Sean Williams with a stun gun as he sits on a curb. Police said it was because Williams failed to follow orders to place his legs in front of him, though officers can be heard giving conflicting commands.
District Attorney Craig Stedman this week said his investigation found no evidence Bernot intended to commit a crime and no violation of the city’s use of force policy.
He noted the policy is flawed.
Matt Johnson, chief of staff to Mayor Danene Sorace, said the city has been working with the NAACP to revise the use of force policy.
The NAACP’s full statement is below.
With Wednesday’s statement by District Attorney Stedman, it is clear that Officer Bernot will not be held accountable for unnecessarily tasering Sean Williams. The Lancaster Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in consultation with national NAACP staff continue to call for accountability and transparency about the Lancaster Police Department’s use of Force.
Blanding Watson, President of the Lancaster NAACP said, “The statement by the District Attorney confirms our position that the use of force Policies of the City of Lancaster fell short and violated the civil rights of our citizens. We believe that the Taser incident with Sean Williams represents one of the worst cases for use of excessive force in Lancaster. We detest the use of excessive force by the Lancaster Police and will continue to work with the many stakeholders, community members, and city elected and appointed officials to address concerns about the use of force as a part of, the community planning to build police and community relations.”
Ngozi Ndulue, Senior Director of Criminal Justice Programs at the national NAACP stated, “The lack of accountability on this misuse of a taser is disturbing. When Mr. Williams was arrested, the Lancaster Police Department’s existing use of force policy specifically prohibited using force where it was unnecessary or unreasonable. Anyone who reviews the video of the police officers’ actions can consider this question: in what universe was it either reasonable or necessary for a taser to be deployed? It is profoundly disheartening that numerous officials have found ways to justify this outrageous behavior.”
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