Category: Legislation|Police Shooting

On Saturday, April 29, 2017, in the Dallas, Texas, area, 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, an African-American, was allegedly shot and killed by a police officer. The Balch Springs, Texas, teen was unarmed and in a car full of unarmed teenagers when the deadly shot occurred. Some Texas lawmakers are discussing whether a legislative solution is needed, with regard to police shootings. Democrat State Rep. Eric Johnson, on the other hand, has proposed that House Bill 245, which has not been scheduled for consideration, could help to prove that there is a problem with unarmed black people disproportionately being killed during encounters with police.

The bill Johnson is pushing would mandate that law enforcement agencies failing to report officer-involved shootings would be punished. A bill has already passed that requires basic information about every police shooting to be sent to the Attorney General’s Office, and it applies to all Texas law enforcement agencies. Johnson has conceded that almost all agencies have been complying with this requirement, but he wants to punish those that don’t.

Johnson’s purpose is to use accurate data to demonstrate whether or not there actually is a specific problem of racial profiling by police.

Democrat State Rep. Garnet Coleman, in response to Edwards’ death, suggested that House Bill 2702, referred to as the “Sandra Bland Act,” should be passed. It would require police officers to be trained regarding implicit bias and de-escalation tactics.

See Part 1 of this two-part series.

–Guest Contributor

On Saturday, April 29, 2017, in the Dallas, Texas, area, 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, an African-American, was allegedly shot and killed by a police officer. The Balch Springs, Texas, teen who was a football player at Mesquite High School was unarmed and in a car full of unarmed teenagers when the deadly shot occurred. Some Texas lawmakers are discussing whether a legislative solution is needed, with regard to police shootings and perceived racial profiling. Democrat State Rep. Eric Johnson, on the other hand, has proposed that House Bill 245, which has not been scheduled for consideration, could help to prove that there is a problem with unarmed black people disproportionately being killed during encounters with police.

The fatal incident Saturday night began when police officers received a 9-1-1 call reporting a party involving underage drinking. Police went to the scene. While they were inside the house, gunshots were allegedly heard outside. The police ran outside and saw that a vehicle backed up and then went forward, away from police; and it was at this time a police officer allegedly fired several shots toward the vehicle. Edwards was struck in the head. It was approximately 15 minutes before he received medical attention because others in the car didn’t realize what had happened. Shortly after Edwards was transported to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead.

The police officer who allegedly shot Edwards was fired from his employment with the Balch Springs Police Department.

Edwards’ family is devastated and has asked that there be no retaliation of any kind against the police for what happened to him, but they also hope for justice. So far, no criminal charges have been made in connection to Edwards’ death, which was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner’s office.

Learn more about Texas legislation currently being discussed to address police shootings and alleged racial targeting in this continuing series.

–Guest Contributor