From [HERE] The Austin City Council meeting may have been canceled because of the Spring Break holiday, however there was business of a different kind unfolding of inside City Hall Chambers Thursday evening.
Friends, family and the attorney of a teenager killed by an Austin police officer last Fall requested a special meeting of the Austin Police Monitor and the Citizens Review Panel.
Friends and family want the Police Monitor and the Citizen’s Review Panel to investigate the case of Devin Contreras.
In early October of 2010, the 16-year old was coming out of a Big Lots store in south Austin after breaking in. On his way out Contreras was confronted by Austin Police Officer James Bowen who said the teenager had a gun and took a firing position pointing his weapon toward the officer.
Bowen fired 14-shots. Four hit Contreras killing him.
“The family and friends who are here are here for one purpose and that's to ask for the truth,” said Bobby Taylor the Contreras family attorney.
Taylor claimed slowing down the video of the shooting captured on two A.P.D. squad car video cameras appeared to show that the teenager was shot when he was on the ground. “We have requested the Police Monitor's Office do a thorough investigation because we believe a young man being shot in the back four times while running away is not anything other than murder,” said Taylor.
Officer Bowen was cleared of any wrongdoing in both an Internal Affairs Investigation and in a Travis County Grand Jury hearing.
Neither the Police Monitor nor the Citizen’s Review Panel has subpoena power to call witnesses. However both met behind closed doors Thursday to decide what recommendation they will make, if any, to Austin’s Police Chief.
“They can ask for an investigation," said Margo Frasier, the Austin Police Monitor. "They can ask for an independent investigation. They can make a recommendation as far as policy or training and a recommendation as far as discipline.”
Frasier adds that the C.R.P. and the Police Monitor could decide not to make any recommendations.
A decision is expected before March 30th, 2011.