Paramount Theatre
Follow Up on APD
RECEIVED Mon., June 1, 2020
Dear Editor
In the May 1 article by Austin Sanders, “Activists Call for Heads at APD,” I was struck by the fourth-paragraph reveal that the Christopher Taylor, who fatally shot Michael Ramos, was one of the two officers who fatally shot Mauris DeSilva last summer – and that the investigation into Mr. DeSilva’s death was still ongoing.
Sanders failed to ask two rather obvious and important questions: 1) What about Mr. DeSilva’s shooting could possibly take 10 months to investigate? 2) Why was Officer Taylor on active duty while being investigated?
These events make it seem like APD doesn’t take its own investigations very seriously. And that makes me question its leadership.
We need journalists to hold our police department accountable. When they say they’re investigating an officer-involved shooting, we count on you to follow up and make sure it really happens. Please follow up.
In the May 1 article by Austin Sanders, “Activists Call for Heads at APD,” I was struck by the fourth-paragraph reveal that the Christopher Taylor, who fatally shot Michael Ramos, was one of the two officers who fatally shot Mauris DeSilva last summer – and that the investigation into Mr. DeSilva’s death was still ongoing.
Sanders failed to ask two rather obvious and important questions: 1) What about Mr. DeSilva’s shooting could possibly take 10 months to investigate? 2) Why was Officer Taylor on active duty while being investigated?
These events make it seem like APD doesn’t take its own investigations very seriously. And that makes me question its leadership.
We need journalists to hold our police department accountable. When they say they’re investigating an officer-involved shooting, we count on you to follow up and make sure it really happens. Please follow up.
Leigh Muzslay Browne
News Editor Mike Clark-Madison responds: Thanks for the feedback; you’re correct that these are questions that deserve answers. We’ve got more reporting this week on Taylor and both the DeSilva and Ramos shootings.