A deep-seated mistrust of
Charlottesville police within the black community so hampered the
investigation into a recent police shooting, the city’s top prosecutor
said, that the only option was to seek the appointment of a special
grand jury with subpoena power. That jury cleared the officers of
wrongdoing, but also returned an unusual 12-page report detailing ways
to improve the city police department’s relationship with black
residents. The case, Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman said,
highlights the wide racial divide that city police must work to
overcome. “It literally became apparent that we were not going to be
able to complete a comprehensive investigation unless we had the
ability to make people appear and answer questions,” Chapman said. City
officials, authorities and local black leaders said they agree with the
report’s recommendations. Some pointed out that the case was just one
of several racially divisive issues that have exploded in the past year
or so, including a police policy of seeking DNA from black men in the
hunt for a serial rapist and widespread criticism of Scottie Griffin,
the black school superintendent. All agree there is a problem, but
opinions differed on the degree to which race relations have suffered. [more]
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