Excessive Use of Force by Loretta P. Prater

Author:Loretta P. Prater [Prater, Loretta P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2018-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

To further cope with this trauma, the October 22 Coalition suggested that families do the following:

Develop a support system and pursue legal strategies.

Document all related interactions and collect all pertinent records.

Do your own investigation and present your case to the media.

We quickly discovered that the police department mobilized to protect their own. They were steadfast in their uncooperative actions throughout the legal process. Departmental officials used every available vehicle to keep information from the family and to cover up their actions. For example, on June 15, 2004, at 3:15 p.m., Dwight and I went to the Police Services Center to ask for a use-of-force report. The person at the window informed us that they did not release these reports. I knew that statement to be untrue. I then asked for an incident report. I was told that someone would have to approve their releasing the report. A few minutes later, we were told that someone would come out and talk to us. We waited patiently, but no one ever came out. At 3:40, we were called back up to the window and handed a four-page report that was very incomplete and provided little to no information of value. That a professional, taxpayer-funded department would distribute such trash to represent a Chattanooga Police Department incident report is an embarrassment. In fact, more information had been reported in the newspaper and on television than was listed on that report. However, the report did list Leslie’s height as five feet, eleven inches and his weight as 235 pounds (not more than six feet and more than 300 pounds). The date and time listed on the report was January 2, 2004, at 19:25 (7:25 p.m.). The next date near the bottom of the report was very interesting. According to the report given to us, the incident narrative was entered on April 1, 2004, at 8:11:56 a.m., one day shy of being three months later than the original January date. I guess that was appropriate, since it was April Fool’s Day, but we were not fools. The narrative had many inaccuracies and missing details and was written in a manner that favored the police. Here is the wording of that report narrative, exactly as written:

On Jan 2, 2004 at 1925 hours, Officer Tilley responded to 810 Central Ave and witnesses called in reporting a naked male running around acting abnormal. Officers responded to the scene and, after locating him at 810 Central Ave. approached him. The man resisted the stop and a struggle ensued. During the struggle the man lost consciousness and was transported to Erlanger where he was later pronounced dead. Major crimes and crime scene unit investigators responded and notifications were made to administration.

Beneath the report narrative, the case status was listed as “inactive.” As far as they were concerned, they were through with the case, but we were just beginning. Prior to leaving the Police Services Center, I asked for information regarding the process for viewing the public records and personnel files of the officers involved in Leslie’s death.

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