Racist DNA Sweeps of Black Men in Baton Rouge and Omaha Challenged

Over the last three years, police have used this investigative technique to look for a serial murderer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a serial rapist in Omaha, Nebraska. According to local news reports, the dragnet in Baton Rouge ensnared more than 1,000 people over the course of ten months, netted no viable suspects, and gave way to a lawsuit accusing the police of violating the Fourth Amendment rights of those sampled without written consent. The lawsuit is also asking that police destroy or return the DNA samples of those exonerated of any wrongdoing.  In June, Omaha police launched a DNA dragnet after the fourth in a series of what they believe are related rapes dating back to September 2002. Based on witness descriptions of the rapist, police asked more than 30 black employees at the Omaha Public Power District to give DNA samples. Once again, the dragnet produced no suspects, rattled many of the targeted employees, and has those who refused to give samples but were forced under warrant to give one anyway asking a judge to unseal the applications used to obtain warrants for their DNA samples. [more ]

Comments

[ME]

This truth is the police dept. on Omaha, started a DNA sweep with a list of 30 black OPPD workers. Only four (4) men gave voluntary samples, and after the big uproar, the police stopped asking for samples from the other 26 men. Let us not forget that the rapist is targeting young black women. Our sisters, mothers, aunts cousins, etc... I believe the police are doing what they think need to be done in order to catch a dangerous felon. Lets stop making a moutain out of a mole hill, and maybe no more of the young black women in Omaha will have to suffer by the hands of this rapist.

[ME]

This truth is the police dept. on Omaha, started a DNA sweep with a list of 30 black OPPD workers. Only four (4) men gave voluntary samples, and after the big uproar, the police stopped asking for samples from the other 26 men. Let us not forget that the rapist is targeting young black women. Our sisters, mothers, aunts cousins, etc... I believe the police are doing what they think need to be done in order to catch a dangerous felon. Lets stop making a moutain out of a mole hill, and maybe no more of the young black women in Omaha will have to suffer by the hands of this rapist.