Consultant urges better body cam review after police beating
Source: Associated Press
Jonathan Drew, Associated Press
Updated 2:33 pm CDT, Wednesday, August 29, 2018
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A white North Carolina officer charged with beating a black pedestrian had a history of "harmful" behavior caught on body camera, according to an external review that urged thorough audits of police footage to catch behavior problems sooner.
The report on Asheville police procedures surrounding former officer Christopher Hickman noted he had shown inappropriate behavior among fellow members of the department and was difficult to supervise. The report was presented to the City Council on Tuesday by 21CP Solutions, a consulting firm hired by the city that includes former law enforcement officials.
"A former supervisor described Officer Hickman as a class clown who was abrasive, opinionated, and lacking a filter," the report said.
The report said even before the Aug. 2017 beating that resulted in criminal charges, Hickman's body camera captured him in behavior that was "harmful to the community and his trainee." It didn't provide specifics. Local officials have previously said a review of Hickman's body camera footage, conducted after the 2017 beating, showed problematic interactions between him and residents.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Consultant-urges-better-body-cam-review-after-13191387.php
