Days after LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck concluded Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas were justified in shooting Ezell Ford, an unarmed, mentally ill black man, a civilian oversight committee unanimously concluded the two cops used excessive force and violated standard LAPD policy.
According to Police Commission President Steve Soboroff of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, an oversight board comprised of five civilians appointed by the Mayor, both officers disregarded departmental protocol when they interacted with Ford. Wampler violated LAPD protocol in every phase of the interaction — including the initial confrontation, the drawing of his weapon, and his use of non-lethal and lethal force. Villegas improperly drew his weapon as well, but was justified in deploying his weapon because Ford was fighting Wampler, the commission found.
Although the board identified officer misconduct leading up to Ford’s death, it does not have authoritative powers. Moving forward, Beck is responsible for disciplining the officers. District Attorney Jackie Lacey, who’s launched her own investigation of the incident, will decide whether or not to file criminal charges.
“This is a tragedy for all involved, the family, relatives, loved ones and friends of Mr. Ford, as well as the involved police officers. To the Ford family, my fellow Police Commissioners and I extend our sincere sympathies for your profound loss,” said Soboroff. “This Commission takes its responsibility to the community and the Los Angeles Police Department very seriously when considering incidents in which Los Angeles Police Officers use deadly force. I am confident that we have been presented a very thorough and complete investigation, with analysis provided by skilled and talented members of the Los Angeles Police Department and our Inspector General’s office.”
By the LAPD’s account, Wampler and Villegas were patrolling Ford’s neighborhood, which was known for drug use and gang violence. The two officers — both members of the department’s anti-gang unit — claim Ford looked nervous, so they had reasonable suspicion to approach him. Ford allegedly attacked Wampler and grabbed for the officer’s gun, when Wampler attempted to detain him. In response, Villegas shot his gun twice, after which Wampler fired one shot as well. An autopsy report later confirmed Ford was shot in his back, right side, and right arm.
Witnesses tell a very different story, alleging Ford was actually complying with the officer commands and laying on the ground when the shots were fired. One, Leroy Hill, alleges the officers jumped out of their vehicle and brutally beat Ford, before deploying their weapons. “They had him in the corner and were beating him, busted him up, for what reason I don’t know he didn’t do nothing,” he told the Huffington Post. “The next thing I know I hear a ‘pow!’ while he’s on the ground. They got the knee on him. And then I hear another ‘pow!’ No hesitation. And then I hear another ‘pow!’ Three times.”
After the shooting, Ford’s self-identified cousin told KTLA, “every officer in this area, from the Newton Division, knows that — that this child has mental problems.”
Indeed, a 2012 study found that half of the people killed by officers each year have a mental illness. Many are harmed and killed after caretakers call law enforcement for help — a trend that’s due in large part to a lack of adequate police training. Some police forces, including the LAPD, use special teams of officers and mental health professionals who can de-escalate situations requiring police involvement. But the deployment of special units remains optional in California.
A recent Supreme Court ruling dealt a blow to a mentally ill woman from San Francisco, saying Teresa Sheehan cannot sue officers who shot her multiple times. But the justices refrained from making additional rulings about what officers can and cannot do when confronting mentally ill persons.