Dallas

Body Cams Work, if They’re Used Right

The police officer who shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards last month in Balch Springs, Tex., was charged with murder on Friday after the Police Department determined from body-camera images and other information that deadly force had been unwarranted. But like most jurisdictions, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office — which is investigating this case — has no written body-cam policy and has made no decisions about making the footage public. Many communities adopted body cams in the wake of the public outcry over the police killings of Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Laquan McDonald, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice and others. The…

Police shooting of Texas teen in moving car violated federal guidance

Chief says killing of Jordan Edwards also violated department’s ‘core values’ and changes official account, saying teens were driving away at time of shooting When a Dallas-area police officer fired shots into a moving car on Saturday night, killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, the officer did so in direct violation of federal guidance and widespread police department best practices. Moving targets US police have fatally shot 30 people in moving vehicles this year, despite federal guidelines advising them not to. Why have police departments pulled the trigger on drivers rather than reform? Read more According to the officer’s police chief, he…