- Police Brutality Watch

Unarmed, Innocent Black Man Killed by Cops

Civil rights leaders are asking for a federal review of the case of a sheriff's deputy who killed an unarmed black man. The Minority Elected Officials Coalition of Columbus wrote a letter Monday to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft asking for a federal review of the 2003 killing, when Kenneth Walker was shot in the head by then-Muscogee County Sheriff's deputy David Glisson during a traffic stop that was part of a drug investigation. The death sparked outrage and community protests against local authorities. Glisson was fired, but a grand jury last month said there wasn't probable cause for a criminal case. Civil rights activists have said they think Glisson should now face federal charges of denying Walker's civil rights. Walker's family also is planning a lawsuit. "What began in Columbus . . can no longer be held locally," Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance President Wayne Baker said. State Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, former head of the state Democratic Party, said the letter was written to add some weight to the issue. "We felt that we had to go above the head of local officials," Smyre told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. "We are not getting any response from them." In January, the same people called for a number of reforms following Walker's death, including an evaluation of the sheriff's departments' on-the-street activities and greater diversity in law enforcement administration. "We had hoped that this would be resolved one year later, but we are doing all we can to assist and facilitate in bringing this issue to a close," Smyre said. On Dec. 10, 2003, Walker and three friends were riding in a gray GMC Yukon seen leaving an apartment that was under surveillance by Metro Narcotics Task Force agents for drug activity. Officers ordered the four men from the vehicle and during that time, Walker was shot twice in the head. No drugs or weapons were found in the Yukon, on Walker or on the other men. [more] Scroll down to 12/5 for more.

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