17 Austin police officers had assault charges dropped in relation to the 2020 George Floyd protests
OAN’s James Meyers
8:35 AM – Tuesday, December 5, 2023
A Democrat Texas prosecutor is dropping charges against 17 Austin police officers who were charged with assault after being accused of injuring protesters during the 2020 George Floyd protests.
The announcement on Monday by Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza (D-Texas.), comes as a surprise to many after Garza ran as a progressive and vowed to fight against law enforcement.
Despite dismissing the indictments against 17 officers Garza’s office said that they will still move forward with prosecuting four others.
The amount of felony charges against the officers were the most indictments in a single U.S. police department during the 2020 protests.
“This has been a difficult chapter for Austin. I look forward to turning the page. These announcements will allow police officers, whose lives were upended by the indictments, to return to their services to our community,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (D-Texas.), who was not in office at the time of the protests.
Garza did not give an explanation on why he was dropping the indictments against the officers, after they were indicted in February 2022. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas.) also claimed that he would pardon the officers after the charges were handed down by a grand jury at the time.
Ken Ervin, an attorney representing the officers said the indictments were a “combination of politics and incompetence.”
“Mr. Garza has not really taken the chance to educate himself on police tactics,” Ervin said. “Maybe he’s finally done that.”
Garza alleged in 2022, that many protesters injured by the officers were innocent bystanders, with some suffering serious injuries. The city of Austin has paid out over $18 million to settle lawsuits filed by protesters during the protests.
Additionally, Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock said prosecutors had not proven where an officer committed any wrongdoing.
“Our officers were faced with incredible and unprecedented challenges. In those extremely difficult times they acted within the law and upheld their oath to keep our city safe,” Bullock said.
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What implications does the decision to dismiss indictments against the officers have on the community’s perception of law enforcement and the justice system as a whole
Title: Charges Dropped Against Austin Police Officers Accused of Assault During George Floyd Protests
Introduction:
In a surprising turn of events, a Democrat Texas prosecutor, Jose Garza, has decided to drop charges against 17 Austin police officers who were accused of assault during the 2020 George Floyd protests. This unexpected announcement comes after Garza ran a progressive campaign and vowed to fight against law enforcement. While the indictments against these officers have been dismissed, the prosecutor’s office has stated that they will continue to prosecute four others. The decision to drop charges against the officers has raised questions and garnered mixed reactions from various stakeholders involved.
Background and Political Implications:
The indictment of the 17 Austin police officers marked the highest number of felony charges against a single U.S. police department during the 2020 protests. As Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza identifies as a Democrat, his decision to drop charges against these officers has surprised many. Garza had campaigned on progressive ideals and a promise to challenge law enforcement. This sudden reversal in his stance has left some individuals baffled.
Austin Mayor, Kirk Watson, who was not in office at the time of the protests, expressed his enthusiasm for moving forward from this difficult chapter. He highlighted that dropping the indictments would allow the officers, whose lives had been affected by the legal proceedings, to resume their services to the community. However, the mayor did not provide any further insights into the reasoning behind Garza’s decision.
Reactions and Criticism:
While Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, had previously declared his intention to pardon the officers once they were charged, the dropping of indictments has caused a stir. The lack of explanation from District Attorney Garza regarding why the charges were dismissed has left many unanswered questions. Supporters of the officers see this as a welcomed reversal of political motivations, while others perceive it as an instance of incompetence.
Attorney Ken Ervin, representing the officers, regarded the initial indictments as a result of politics and incompetence. He questioned whether Garza had educated himself on police tactics and suggested that the prosecutor might have reconsidered his position. This raises concerns about the extent to which Garza was informed about the realities of law enforcement.
Injuries and Legal Consequences:
District Attorney Garza alleged in 2022 that the officers had injured innocent bystanders during the protests, with some suffering serious injuries. The city of Austin has already paid out over $18 million to settle lawsuits filed by protesters. The dropping of charges against these officers brings into question the validity of the claims made by the prosecution.
Conclusion:
The decision of Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza to drop charges against the 17 Austin police officers accused of assault during the George Floyd protests has elicited mixed reactions. While some perceive it as an admittance of incompetence on the part of the prosecution, others view it as a welcome shift away from politically motivated indictments. The lack of explanation from Garza leaves room for speculation, and it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the community’s perception of law enforcement and the justice system moving forward.
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