Three Cops Convicted in Post-Katrina Slaying

Filed under: News, Race and Civil Rights

In the end, there was justice for Henry Glover.

Shot down by police outside a strip mall for no reason, his body burned up in a car in an obvious attempt to destroy evidence in the confused days after Hurricane Katrina wrecked New Orleans, Glover's case became a symbol of what happens when police officers lose control.

Three officers were convicted yesterday in connection to Glover's death and two were acquitted of charges in the cover-up.

Officer David Warren, accused of shooting an unarmed Glover in the back, was found guilty of manslaughter. Officer Gregory McRae was convicted of burning Glover's body in an attempt to cover-up the shooting. Police Lt. Travis McCabe was convicted of writing a false report on the shooting and lying to federal investigators.

While Glover's family members are understandably upset that the manslaughter conviction wasn't a murder conviction and that two officers were able to escape charges, they should be gratified that Glover's death wasn't swept under the rug.

The misconduct by the officers kept the truth hidden from the public for nearly four years. Luckily federal prosecutors stepped in to conduct an open investigation into the charges.

The Glover case is one of nine civil rights violation cases facing the New Orleans Police Department, which has labored under the reputation of being among the most corrupt and brutal big city police units in the nation.

Ten more officers are facing charges in the Danziger Bridge police shooting that killed two unarmed people and occurred two days after Glover's shooting.

There will be a number of New Orleans police officers sitting behind bars when this very ugly chapter of murderous policing is closed.

But I hope some investigators force these officers to talk about why they lost control. Everyone knows the aftermath of Katrina was a confused and dangerous time for all people in the city. The stress was unimaginable.

But far too many New Orleans police officers lost their minds in the chaos. We need to find out why so it doesn't happen again.

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