NCJ Number
61736
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 30-34
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED BLACK WOMAN BY A BIRMINGHAM, ALA., POLICE OFFICER IN 1979 SERIOUSLY DAMAGED RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE POLITICAL CAREER OF THE MAYOR.
Abstract
DURING POLICE INTERVENTION IN A DISTURBANCE INVOLVING GUNFIRE IN A POOR BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, A WHITE PLAINCLOTHES OFFICER, GEORGE SANDS, ACCIDENTLY SHOT AND KILLED BONITA CARTER. THE INCIDENT PRECIPITATED 3 NIGHTS OF DISTURBANCES BY BLACKS AND COUNTERDEMONSTRATIONS BY THE KLU KLUX KLAN. ALTHOUGH A BIRACIAL CITIZENS' COMMITTEE INVESTIGATED THE EVENTS AND FOUND THE SHOOTING TO BE UNJUSTIFIED, A POLICE REVIEW COMMITTEE RULED THAT SANDS DID NOT VIOLATE ANY FIREARMS POLICIES. HE WAS NOT SUSPENDED. THE MAYOR CLAIMED THAT HE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO SUSPEND POLICE OFFICERS, BUT BELIEVED THAT SANDS HAD ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICE PROCEDURES. IN PROTEST, LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS PLANNED A BOYCOTT OF DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS WHICH WAS CANCELED WHEN SANDS REQUESTED INDEFINITE SICK LEAVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH THE REPUTATION OF BIRMINGHAM POLICE HAD IMPROVED GREATLY SINCE THE 1960'S, THEIR FIREARMS POLICY HAD BEEN CRITICIZED AS TOO BROAD AND AMBIGUOUS. AS A RESULT OF THE CARTER INCIDENT, A REVISED CODE TO RESTRICT THE USE OF FIREARMS IS BEING DRAFTED. OTHER MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE POLICE CONDUCT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS INCLUDE TRAINING PROGRAMS, REVIEW PANELS, AND A POLICY OF INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF BLACKS. THE ARTICLE GIVES A DETAILED CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF THE CARTER INCIDENT EXPLAINING SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT, POLICE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS.