Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

When the public got notice of another alleged incident of police brutality involving a local man that occurred back in April, there were some who said that nothing was going to come of it. After all, the Monroe Dispatch has reported several instances of alleged police brutality from citizens, where their concerns appeared to have been written off by local authorities. It appears to have been an "us vs. them" version of the facts where the police department usually wins, as there is not enough evidence or an attorney would not take a victim's case. But in the Timothy Williams' case, there appears to be more than enough evidence to bring charges against more than one officer who was there on the might of April 21 when Williams suffered severe injuries at the hands of Monroe Police officers. In a lawsuit brought against the city, Williams' lawyers have been able to show that at least one of the officers during his arrest appeared to use excessive force to subdue Williams following a foot chase through body cam footage. Jared DeSadier was charged with malfeasance in office and second-degree battery after footage from body cams released to the public show Williams being kicked in the face by DeSadier as he laid on the ground. When knowledge of the incident became public because of a lawsuit, there was talk of "a coverup" by the police department. Several officers were placed on leave as more details became public as Williams' attorneys got the city to make a statement from the police department concerning Williams' original complaint as it gained more traction. It appears after further investigation, that some officers "wanted to get their stories straight" when they asked one another were their cams recording when Williams was being beaten. That was corroborated by the fact that one officer allegedly didn't make any statements during the investigation. The body cam footage is important because that is supposed to be a "transparent" way for police officers to do their job within the rules and not just rely on an officer's words of what exactly happened. As one former police chief said when body cams were first being ordered for the Monroe Police Department (MPD), and actually in use, there "would be no excuse" if that cam wasn't on when making contact with the public. Now with visual and audio evidence, there appeared to be a "coverup in the making", as DeSadier allegedly tried to defend his actions against Williams, telling him that he shouldn't have ran, fallen, and knocked his own teeth out. But as Williams has stated before that he offered no resistance and that the injuries that he sustained were from the blows from officers who kicked him in the face. Photos provided to the media show Williams' face with injuries as if he had indeed been hit multiple times. Only one officer has been charged and fired since the investigation has revealed more troubling information regarding Timothy Williams' encounter with Monroe Police Officers. Other reports appear to show that more charges could be leveled against additional officers. This case mirrors the Ronald Greene incident that is currently in the media/public stemming from his encounter with LA State Troopers back in May 2019, that sadly ended in his death. The attorneys in Greene's death have alleged a coverup by LA State Police, noting that an investigation into the Troopers' conduct started a year after Greene's death. If there are bad apples in the basket, the public would expect the police department leaders to make strong statements concerning acts of police brutality. Protests are not enough. It is the responsibility of civic leaders to stand with the public, so that everyone can feel safe whenever they are in the presence of police officers no matter the time, day or night. It always starts at the top.

Photo Monroe Police