Ohio SWAT Officer Acquitted in the Killing of Tarika Wilson

Submitted by Chuchundra on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 6:48pm. Tags:

Social Issues

For those of you who are unfamiliar, during a drug raid last January, police officer Joseph Chavalia shot and killed Wilson and wounded her infant son. Wilson was unarmed and was holding the child in her arms at the time. It's probably no surprise to anyone that Wilson is Black and Sgt. Chavalia is white.

According to both a forensic pathologist and a firearms expert, Ms. Wilson was likely on her knees and complying with the SWAT team's orders to get down when she was hit in the neck and chest. The officer testified that he thought he was being fired upon when he heard the shots of his fellow officers began shooting at two pit bulls downstairs.

Chavalia was found not guilty of misdemeanor charges of negligent homicide and negligent assault. He had faced up to eight months in jail if convicted of both counts.

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Not sure that a conviction (#108050)

by Spartacvs on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:09pm

and jail time would have really served any good purpose in this instance. Obviously the victims family should be generously compensated and the officer involved should face some measure of internal discipline and not be allowed anywhere near a SWAT team ever again.

GW Bush, leading contender for worst President ever.

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it might discourage other policemen from shooting (#108077)

by Username on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 11:04pm

anything that breathes during a supposed drug bust.

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More effective to change protocols (#108083)

by Spartacvs on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 11:20pm

recruitment and training. Lawsuits for compensation or the threat of them would be more likely to spur that kind of institutional change than the convictions of individual officers.

GW Bush, leading contender for worst President ever.

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You're probably right (#108087)

by Username on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 11:44pm

although I would disagree with you had this been a DEA officer -- lock those guys up.

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wow (#108043)

by catchy on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 9:47pm

I was in OHio at the time and following the story. Unbelievable verdict.

There's something in the air re: immunity + law enforcement. My hazy impression is that this kind of thing is more acceptable post 9/11.

I don't know if that impression is accurate and I'd be curious to hear others'

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Impression: (#108063)

by Jordan on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:33pm

it's nothing new. Although firearms training has gotten a lot more aggressive over the past 3 decades.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. -JH

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