Drug War Issues
A New Orleans police officer who gunned down an unarmed 20-year-old man during a 2012 drug raid pleaded guilty to manslaughter last Friday and was led off to begin serving a four-year prison sentence. Joshua Colclough, 29, who resigned from the force the previous day, apologized to the family of his victim, Wendell Allen, before he was led away.
Defense attorney Claude Kelly said Colclough made a split-second decision.
"Josh will live with this as will the Allen family, until the day he dies," Kelly said in court.
Colclough's apology to the family was the second in as many days. The day before the hearing, he met with Allen family members and tearfully apologized. The meeting was taped by WVUE-TV.
"I wanted to tell you for a very long time how sorry I am. I am so very sorry," he said during that meeting.
"I prayed for you. I prayed God have mercy on your soul, but what took you so long?" the victim's mother, Natasha Allen said at one point, also crying.
"I am so sorry it took so long. I'm very sorry for what I've put your family through," Colclough said.
Drug War Chronicle tallied 63 drug war deaths in 2012. Eight of the dead were law enforcement officers. Of the 55 civilian deaths, only two resulted in an officer being charged.
The other case was that of Ramarley Graham, an 18-year-old New York City resident who was gunned down in his own bathroom by an undercover officer who pursued him thinking he was armed. NYPD Officer Richard Haste was indicted in that case, but the indictment was dismissed because of prosecutorial error. The Justice Department is now investigating to determine if federal civil rights charges can be filed.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
r u kiding me?!?!?!
Another example of a no
In reply to Another example of a no by Colby (not verified)
Re:
Drug War Chronicle has been tracking all the US deaths directly attributable to domestic drug law enforcement, including the border. Police have reason to be wary of guns. Of the eight law enforcement officers killed enforcing the drug laws last year, seven were killed by gunfire. assignment writers
Shocked
I'm shocked that a police officer was ever convicted for a murder.Of course this sounds like a manslaughter 2 or 3 as it's only four years.I'm not familiar with the US justice system but for a cop to even be convicted for any crime other than drug malfeasance,which they look down on as much or more than with the general public,amazes me.Prohibition and killing are two parts of a whole.When the general public comes to realise this they will demand it's end.What's taking so long has more to do with politics and too much power in too few hands.The lobby for the private prison industry alone has more cash than all drug reform movements put together.In Canada we now have a pro legalisation political leader with the very real possibility of being the next Prime Minister.Our current PM has put drug reform back decades.He's even spent millions of tax dollars fighting battle after battle trying to shut down insite.In Canada we never convict police of anything.If they do get caught on video doing the nasty they may be suspended with pay for a short period.Once in a very long while they are made to resign.Jail?There is no such thing up here for cops.
It's a war.
"Dismissed because of prosecutorial error"? Oh how convenient. REFILE, dumbass's. Fire the DA.
Ok, this police officer will
Ok, this police officer will serve his sentence, but what about those who are in charged to formulate and manage law enforcement with such disastrous policies? When will they be held to account? - Adam Gottbetter
The cost of the "war on
The cost of the "war on marijuana" to Mr. Allen's family is obvious. It's an avoidable tragedy, so it was good to see Mr. Colclough take responsibility for his part in it. He and his family also bear the burden of this war.
Several controversial issue
Several controversial issue has been piled up to end this case , one of the group commits to prove him guilty where other believe that he saved the life of 20 years old person because he was in addiction and would respond harshly which would cause human death. Well after complete case study we came to realize that only one team may have the right solution for such case studies because they have a team of professional experts and psychiatrist who would love to judge rather than making any decision.
I cannot believe it at all.
I cannot believe it at all. There are many corrupted officers in the force. They want to make money and enjoy their authority. The Officers must learn the laws before they act upon it. There are good safety measures in the training manuals too. They need understand before they use guns!!!
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