NAACP wants federal probe of police
Randolph McLaughlin, left, an attorney representing the Chamberlain family, speaks during a press conference held by state and local chapters of the NAACP in support of the Chamberlain family in front of the Thomas Slater Center in White Plains on May 12, 2012. Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. of White Plains was shot at home by White Plains police responding to his medical alert device Nov. 19, 2011. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )
Written by Gary Stern (May 12, 2012)
The NAACP and others today called for a wide-ranging federal investigation into not only the police killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. but what they said was a pattern of police harassment of blacks in Westchester County.
"Yes, something is wrong here," said Hazel Dukes, president of the New York Conference of NAACP Branches, at a press conference and rally that just concluded outside the Thomas Slater Center in White Plains. Representatives attended from NAACP branches in Buffalo, Rochester, Elmira and Binghamton.
Close to 150 people, almost all African American, chanted "Justice in White Plains" and "No justice, no peace" at the conclusion of remarks.
NAACP officials said that the circumstances surrounding Chamberlain's death, which has drawn national attention, showed that local police are insensitive to and reckless with blacks. Police shot Chamberlain at his White Plains apartment on Nov. 19 after an hour-long standoff that started after Chamberlain's medical alert device was accidentally activated.
Chamberlain, 68, had been drinking, but insisted to police that he was fine. Police broke down his door and later said that Chamberlain attacked officers with a hatchet and a knife and was not stopped after being shot with a stun gun and bean bags. Officer Anthony Carelli shot him, police said, after Chamberlain tried to stab another officer.
Leroy Gadsden, chairman of legal redress for the New York State NAACP, said that there was no legal reason for police to take down Chamberlain's door.
"In fact, the only criminal behavior around that night was the behavior of the police officers who broke into Mr. Chamberlains' house," Gadsden said. "This is how thugs and burglars enter our home."
NAACP officials were dissatisfied with Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore's investigation. On May 3, DiFiore announced that a grand jury came back with no indictments in the case. The next day, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it would review the Chamberlain case to determine whether criminal civil rights violations took place.
"We question the handling of the event and what evidence was actually heard by the grand jury," said Lena Anderson, president of White Plains NAACP branch. "We question the sincerity of the DA, Janet DiFiore, to serve all the people."
DiFiore's spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Chamberlain family lawyer Randolph McLaughlin said that the group wants the federal civil rights investigation to be expanded to look at countywide police behavior toward minorities. An appropriate result, he said, could be a federal monitor.
NAACP officials were angry that two officers involved in Chamberlain's death face unrelated federal police brutality lawsuits. A similar suit against a third officer was recently dismissed.
Chamberlain was a former Marine and retired correction officer who had once been acquitted of murder charges and was the subject of many complaints from neighbors to police about him creating disturbances.
Many are linking the case to the Dec. 14 killing by Spring Valley police of Herve Gille, 48, a Haitian immigrant known to be emotionally disturbed. Spring Valley Police said that Officer John Roper, who shot Gilles, acted in self-defense after Gilles attacked him.
On May 8, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe announced that a grand jury came back with no indictments. The Gilles family is calling for a federal investigation.
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Inquiries about the Chamberlain case may be directed to Newman Ferrara attorney, Prof. Randolph McLaughlin, at 212-619-5400