Pete Buttigieg returns to South Bend amid tension over police shooting

[DonViejo]

Mayor will attend peace walk and event for Eric Logan

Democratic candidate faces questions over race relations

Martin Pengelly
@MartinPengelly

Sat 29 Jun 2019 09.29 EDT

Pete Buttigieg returned to South Bend on Saturday to attend events in memory of Eric Logan, an African American man shot dead by a white police officer in the small Indiana city.

It will be the Democratic presidential candidate’s first visit to the city he runs as mayor since a contentious town hall event last weekend threw a national spotlight on the shooting, Buttigieg’s record in office and his relationship with black voters.

After consulting with people close to Logan’s family, Buttigieg will not attend the funeral. He will instead participate in a peace walk and a community event including faith leaders and police representatives.

Logan, 54, was shot dead on 16 June, after police responded to a call about someone breaking into cars. Sgt Ryan O’Neill, the officer who shot Logan, said he came at him with a knife. O’Neill had not turned on his body camera. He was placed on leave. An independent prosecutor will investigate.

Early in his term in office Buttigieg, 37, demoted South Bend’s first black police chief. In a city that is 27% black and 15% Latino, 90% of officers are white.

In Thursday night’s Democratic debate, Buttigieg was asked about his failure to bring greater diversity to South Bend police. He said he “couldn’t get it done”.

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/29/pete-buttigieg-returns-to-south-bend-to-honor-man-killed-by-police-officer