A FEDERAL JURY in the US has convicted five current or former police officers of involvement in deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina.
All five officers were convicted of charges stemming from the cover-up of the shootings. Local news station WDSU reports that four of the defendants were convicted of civil rights violations.
There is widespread belief that police cover up their illegal actions. If those who enforce the law can't be trusted, societal norms can rapidly break down. This is of great concern to those who desire to live in a society based on the rule of law.
Faulcon, Gisevius, Bowen and Villavaso were convicted in the shootings and with taking part in the alleged cover-up. Kaufman, who investigated the shootings, was charged only in the alleged cover-up.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Carter said in closing arguments earlier this week that police had no justification for shooting unarmed, defenseless people trying to cross the bridge in search of food and help mere days after Katrina struck.
Faulcon, the only defendant to testify, said he was “paralyzed with fear” when he shot and killed a 40-year-old mentally disabled man, Ronald Madison, as he chased him and his brother, Lance Madison.
Faulcon didn’t dispute that he shot an unarmed man in the back, but he testified that he had believed Ronald Madison was armed and posed a threat.
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