Activists want civilian review of police

Published 9:30 am Thursday, December 28, 2006

ATLANTA — The killing of an elderly woman by Atlanta police and the fatal shootings of 12 people this year by DeKalb County police prompted community activists Wednesday to call for the creation of civilian review boards to investigate citizen complaints of police misconduct.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, chairman of the Coalition for The People’s Agenda and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said the review boards he wants set up in the two jurisdictions should have subpoena power, a right usually reserved for grand juries.

“The police, no matter how difficult their job, are not exempt from community scrutiny,” Lowery said at a news conference.

Lowery said Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin told him recently she was not opposed to the idea. He did not say whether he has spoken about the idea with DeKalb County Chief Executive Vernon Jones.

A Franklin spokeswoman did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Wednesday seeking comment. Jones said in a statement Wednesday that he would take Lowery’s suggestion under advisement.

“I respect Dr. Lowery for his experience and commitment to empower the quality of our lives,” Jones said.

Lowery acknowledged Atlanta might already have a civilian review board, but he said he believes it has been inactive for years.

The call for the review boards comes in the wake of the Nov. 21 fatal shooting of Kathryn Johnston by Atlanta police during a raid in search of a drug suspect. Family members say Johnston was 92; A medical examiner claims she was 88. Police say Johnston had fired on them and they shot back.

In the suburbs, officers for the DeKalb County Police Department have shot and killed 12 people so far this year.

Local and federal investigations are ongoing in the Johnston shooting. The district attorney’s office is investigating the DeKalb County shootings, and the Justice Department is “gathering information” about the DeKalb County shootings, according to a letter from the agency to a community activist.