Napoleon & Archer Must Resign

Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality P.O. Box 44925 Detroit, Mi 48232 (313)846-5770

Stop The Police Killings! Jail And Fire The Murderers! Napoleon & Archer Must Resign

The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality will hold a press conference outside the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Monday, September 11 at 12 noon to call for the resignations of Police Chief Benny Napoleon and Mayor Dennis Archer, and the formation of a massive grass roots resistance movement to respond to the state of emergency created by escalating police killings.

The recent killings of Errol Shaw and Dwight Turner in the past 2 weeks follow a trail of blood that leads back to Police Chief Benny Napoleon and Mayor Dennis Archer. Many people feel that they could be next. In each case, the police brass has said the killing followed proper police procedure, or as Police Chief Napoleon stated at a City Council meeting in 1998, "police officers are trained to shoot to kill" not to maim, wound, or subdue.

The result of this policy has been the murder of a 39 year old deaf mute holding a yard rake 15 foot away from at least 4 police officers armed with standard issue glocks; while neighbors valiantly pleaded "don't shoot him, he's deaf". Within a week of Errol Shaw's murder, Dwight Turner, a 20 year employee of Ford Motor Company and UAW member was shot down, while according to several witnesses, complying with police orders to put down a weapon he was using to rid the neighborhood of a dangerous animal.

In just two weeks, a dog and a rake have been used by police as ammunition to justify the brutal killings of two Detroit fathers. The recent killings are, however, not isolated instances. Police Officer Eugene Brown has killed at least 3 people in less than 4 years and has yet to be prosecuted, but paradoxically is now a candidate for promotion to the rank of sergeant. The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation has documented many other repeat offenders still under the employ of the Detroit Police Department.

In November 1998, the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation presented a list to the Detroit City Council that included an end to the use of deadly force and the adoption of measures to hold the police accountable for their misdeeds. If City Council had heeded our warnings and followed up on our demands, many Detroiters would be alive today. The Mayor, the Police Chief, the City Council, and the Police Commissioners are guilty by neglect, guilty by their deliberate failure to take decisive action. The blood in the streets is on their hands!

A massive grassroots movement must emerge to challenge the critical emergency situation being faced by the citizens of Detroit, one similar to the mass anti-S.T.R.E.S.S. movement of the 1970's. We call on all concerned organizations, unions, churches, and individuals to link with us as we form a grass roots resistance movement to properly protect and serve the interest and lives of Detroit residents.

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