http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/01/1389519/-Unarmed-black-teen-William-Chapman-killed-by-officer-who-just-came-off-suspension-for-killing?detail=email
On April 22, the Portsmouth, Virginia, Police Department claimed that 18-year-old William Chapman was suspected of shoplifting from a local Walmart. Completely unarmed, he was shot in the face and killed by an officer with a record so heinous that it is criminal he was ever allowed on the force in the first place.
In a powerful report written by Jon Swaine of The Guardian, it's made abundantly clear that Chapman's mother has not only been stonewalled for answers, the local Walmart actually called the police on her when she came to the store days later to ask exactly what they are claiming her son stole. They wouldn't give her any answers either.
The officer who killed Chapman is Stephen Rankin, who had been suspended from street patrol for nearly three years after he killed another unarmed man.
Chiefs only allowed Rankin to return to front line policing in March last year, almost three years after he killed an unarmed 26-year-old Kazakhstani immigrant in February 2011. Rankin was later found to have insulted the man and his family in other online postings.
A sergeant in the department at the time told the Guardian that senior commanders were formally warned by one of Rankin’s supervisors weeks before his first fatal shooting that he was “dangerous” and likely to cause someone harm.
Asked twice during a telephone interview why Rankin had been allowed to continue policing the public, Portsmouth police chief Edward Hargis repeated: “That’s a personnel matter and I can’t comment.” He added: “I’m not going to comment on what people may say, allegation-wise.”
In addition to this suspension and warnings from his superiors that he was likely to cause harm, Rankin had also been suspended for posting Nazi-inspired images and messages online. How can anyone with such a record be allowed to be in public service?
it's obvious that if a city hires a cop of questionable character and charges relative to the headlines of today that it is their intention to hire such a radically anti people officer. known for his racial inclinations, being warned of his volatility shows the lack of concern for the people they are sworn to protect by those at the top.
again the ones who do the deeds are beginning to look like they are being enabled by those they are supposedly accountable to. to kill and maim with impunity you gotta give credence to they feel comfortable the boss and the system has their back. kinda makes you wonder why are these co conspirators to homicide not being charged too??? begs to question how many more have been re-released on an unsuspecting public but not reported??
