Jackson Free Press

The Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Chief Shirlene Anderson is saying that a police officer who shot an unarmed man three times in the chest during a traffic stop committed no "wrong-doing." Police still will not release the officer's name:

"The deputy placed Roy Bradley under arrest and placed handcuffs on him. He called to the Jackson Police Department dispatch to send a Jackson police officer to this location," Anderson said. When the Jackson officer arrived, the officer put Bradley in JPD handcuffs and proceeded to process Bradley's vehicle. Then, the officer asked Bradley to sign some paperwork and uncuffed Bradley's writing hand.

"(Bradley) signed the form, and at that time, an altercation ensued with Mr. Bradley. Mr. Bradley hit the officer, and a struggle (occurred) for the weapon. The officer was injured during this altercation. Mr. Bradley was shot several times," Anderson said.

Bradley was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer received treatment and released from a local hospital. Anderson said a preliminary investigation conducted by JPD internal affairs investigators shows no wrong-doing on the part of the officer.

Previous Comments

ID

114883

Comment

If that is what happened, it shouldn't have taken three days to tell the media. Nor should we not know the name of the officer by now. Also, the history of the Melton administration in regards to truth and transparency leaves little reason to ever fully believe what they say. This is a group that turned down free computers and modern software to process municipal court dockets from the Clarion Ledger to help the City help the public by providing better information and criminal processing.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-09-26T11:33:38-06:00

ID

114884

Comment

Also, they would release the video from the police car (if we have that) if this is how it went down. I haven't seen a police department not do so, when it is in the officers favor.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-09-26T11:35:36-06:00

ID

114885

Comment

If this is the way it happened, I'm not following why he was shot four times and how that can be "no wrong-doing."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-26T11:36:47-06:00

ID

114886

Comment

I can see how it happened, ladd. The "No wrong-doing" was reported by wrong - doers. This really sucks!

Author

justjess

Date

2007-09-26T12:15:54-06:00

ID

114887

Comment

And, when they don't have video, they have audio. You wouldn't be able to have 100's of episodes of cops chasing criminals if they didn't.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-09-26T12:26:35-06:00

ID

114888

Comment

I would guess they have not release any video or audio yet is because the Anderson said the "preliminary investigation" shows no wrong doing, they are still conducting a criminal investigation. As for shooting him 4 times, well you shoot till the treat stops. There is no one shot magic bullet that stops everyone.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2007-09-26T12:44:08-06:00

ID

114889

Comment

I don't understand why all of this (processing car, having to have Bradley's signature, etc.) took place without additional officers. If you have a minor accident, 5 JPD cars will come...eventually. 1 officer will get information and the others will just stand around. You mean they couldn't get additional officers to assist with something of this nature? Don't pass the smell test for me!

Author

honey2me

Date

2007-09-26T12:47:55-06:00

ID

114890

Comment

Last I heard, JPD still didn't have in Car Video.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-09-26T13:09:18-06:00

ID

114891

Comment

If JPD dosen't have Car Video they need to be spending the money they used for the Shotspotter on Car Video instead, it would be a more useful tool than the Shotspotter. It does seem odd that there were no other JPD officers around either. I had a friend that was a shift-commander for a Delta town PD and he always had to respond to traffic stops other officers made when they were arresting someone. He just stood around and made sure nothing was done wrong by the officer or whoever they taking into custody.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2007-09-26T13:38:09-06:00

ID

114892

Comment

the officer has been identified for a few days now on Othor Cain's blog.... http://www.othorcainreport.com/b2/?p=40#comments

Author

blkokc

Date

2007-09-26T16:30:15-06:00

ID

114893

Comment

So, Othor, you're saying the officer is L.V. Gater? Good work.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-26T16:33:13-06:00

ID

114894

Comment

Where's Geraldo now?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-09-26T16:48:16-06:00

ID

114895

Comment

yes, donna...and thanks!

Author

blkokc

Date

2007-09-26T16:56:45-06:00

ID

114896

Comment

What paperwork would Bradley have been asked to sign? I believe any paperwork would be signed at JPD booking, not on the street. Is that part of the "policies" Anderson says weren't violated?

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-09-26T21:59:03-06:00

ID

114897

Comment

that's a great point Brent. I thought about that after I made my post...

Author

blkokc

Date

2007-09-26T23:08:29-06:00

ID

114898

Comment

Right, how does it make sense that officers take perps out of handcuffs for a minute to sign documents? We've filed a formal request for JPD's policy on when an officer can discharge his weapon. Anyone want to bet a dinner at Schimmel's that they won't give us anything. Just like they haven't produced a domestic-violence policy, yet? This chief is in SO far over her head it isn't funny.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-27T07:03:45-06:00

ID

114899

Comment

So Chief Shirlene Anderson had a so-called "news conference" yesterday to address the police shooting of an unarmed man in custody. The Clarion-Ledger reports that Anderson would not answer questions (at a press conference!?!), then hung up later when a reporter tried to answer questions by phone: During the news conference, Anderson refused to answer questions about the case or two other current internal affairs investigations. When reached later by phone, the chief hung up before questions could be asked. What a responsible public servant she is. Melton has trained his puppet-chief well. And she still won't reveal the officer's name—but Othor Cain, and now the JFP, has revealed his name: L. V. Gater. Does she really think this town is big enough such a secret? Meantime, they're back to not telling the JFP about news conferences, back like when Melton sister-in-law scolded us all the time for not telling the story the mayor wanted us to. I can't tell you how many idiotic conversations I had with that woman who had no idea how media and public accountability work. It boggles my mind that WAPT hired Redd. And I've never understand why she's in Jackson. She's here, but Melton's wife and kids aren't.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-27T07:04:49-06:00

ID

114900

Comment

It boggles my mind that WAPT hired Redd. And I've never understand why she's in Jackson. She's here, but Melton's wife and kids aren't. ladd You would think Matt would have come over to run one of Melton's programs after he graduated.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-09-27T07:58:25-06:00

ID

114901

Comment

I'm a bit concerned with the tone of this thread, since I seriously doubt the officer shot the guy for fun, there must have some "threat" to him. For all we know the officers are being truthful, including the police chief. Some transparency here would be mighty helpful though, since evasiveness causes mistrust.

Author

GLewis

Date

2007-09-27T11:20:41-06:00

ID

114902

Comment

Just because he felt threatened, GLewis doesn't mean there was no "wrongdoing." The point here is competence, policy and training.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-27T13:37:02-06:00

ID

114903

Comment

Well we don't really know what happened aside from what has been released, and while shooting an unarmed suspect seems extreme and warrants investigation, the policeman on the scene shouldn't be accused of anything unless there is some information that he acted inappropriately. /Takes devil's advocate hat off It does seem odd that the handcuffs were off, I'm guessing there is some policy about that, but we can all imagine a persuasive argument by the suspect that he needed to have them off to sign the form, etc.

Author

GLewis

Date

2007-09-27T13:54:09-06:00

ID

114904

Comment

The point here is competence, policy and training. Yes, and the ability of media and citizens to evaluate these has long been resisted by Anderson and others. Closing off a police department from public monitoring just invites abuse, be it from lack of updated training or the false sense that the police department is insulated from scrutiny and accountability, so anything goes.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-09-27T14:02:59-06:00

ID

114905

Comment

It didn't make any sense about taking the guy out of cuffs to have him sign something, I agree. I did hear there was a struggle for the officers gun, and the officer had bite marks, and by one news, had his hand bitten clean through. That's a serious situation. In light of that, I can see the guy being shot, even multiple times struggling for the gun. It sounds legit to me so far.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-09-27T14:23:30-06:00

ID

114906

Comment

news account, I meant...

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-09-27T14:28:10-06:00

ID

114907

Comment

I agree, Cliff! The guy may have been "unarmed" because he didn't have his own weapon, but that doesn't mean he wasn't a physical threat to the officers! Physical violence towards a police officer let's you know this guy was crazy, and if he was going after the gun I don't blame the officer one bit for shooting him. Officers get killed all the time over this kind of nonsense, and he had to protect himself. It probably isn't the police officer's decision whether or not tapes get released to the public or questions get answered, he's probably doing what he's told. So I think you guys should respect law enforcement and not speculate that he did something wrong when there is no reason to think that! You guys don't even know the story yet... so at least wait until more facts are revealed.

Author

BB

Date

2007-09-27T17:31:53-06:00