Why Do Cities Pay Families of Those Justifiably Shot By Police?

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Jamar Clark was fatally shot in a confrontation with police in November 2015 in Minneapolis. (Jamar Clark/Javille Burns via AP, File)

The Minneapolis City Council has approved a $200,000 settlement for the family of a black man, a known criminal and violent offender, who was killed by police in 2015.

Jamar Clark’s death during a struggle with two white officers led to weeks of protests outside a nearby police station. Prosecutors declined to seek criminal charges, and the department did not discipline the officers, primarily because they had done nothing wrong, and were defending themselves and the public after Clark grabbed one of the officer’s guns.

The council previously rejected an unspecified five-figure settlement because it was too low, the AP reports. The city’s mayor, no doubt swayed by pressure from militant blacks, said in a statement Friday that the aftermath of Clark’s death brought lasting reform to Minneapolis, although no one knows what that reform will accomplish.

Mayor Frey said:

And while no amount of money can make Jamar’s family whole, I know that this decision was shaped by a common belief that we can and must do better by our community.

Clark, hardly the saint as painted by the black community, had previous encounters with law enforcement, beginning in 2010 when he received a felony conviction for first-degree aggravated robbery. The conviction resulted in a sentence of 41 months in prison, of which it is unclear how many Clark served.

Mr. Clark’s crime ridden life didn’t end there however, as he faced a second conviction for terroristic threats after he threatened to burn down the apartment of an ex-girlfriend in March 2015, following a bitter breakup. According to Kyle Potter of the Associated Press,

He threw a brick through his ex-girlfriend’s window and threatened to burn her apartment unit down — leaving behind a trail of lighter fluid to prove it.

As of November 2015, he was on probation for this crime. A Domestic Abuse No Contact Order was issued for Clark, requiring him to stay away from his ex-girlfriend until 2020. Additionally, Clark was awaiting trial for a high-speed chase arrest from July 2015.

So why is the city paying anyone for this guy’s demise? There were dozens of witnesses, including paramedics, bystanders, and police who affirmed that Clark was NOT handcuffed during the incident.

County Attorney accounts say that Clark got into a confrontation with paramedics and then when police officers responded at 12:45 am, a “struggle” ensued, Clark obtained the officer’s gun, leading to the shooting by the other officer.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said that Clark was resisting and was not handcuffed. In a statement on November 16, police chief Janeé Harteau said that the Minneapolis Police Department’s preliminary information was that Clark was not restrained with handcuffs when shot.

The President of the Minneapolis Police Union Bob Kroll said that Clark was actively resisting arrest and tried to take the weapon of one of the officers, and that he was not handcuffed at the moment of the shooting.

Clark’s DNA was found on the handle of one of the officers’ gun. Mike Freeman said there was no forensic evidence on Clark’s arm indicating he was handcuffed at the time of shooting. In addition, he stated that 10 law enforcement and paramedic witnesses including the officers involved said he was not handcuffed.

Despite all of the evidence, the city voted to give Clark’s family $200,000. Why does this keep happening? Simply because someone is a member of a minority is no justification for spending taxpayer dollars at the insistence and threats of the special interest groups. Cities need to stop opening the cash register and paying restitution when none is due, damaging police morale in the process.

In case you missed it: Texas Police Officer Shot To Death Responding to Alarm

Many thanks to Wikipedia for background information.

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Professor Mike

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