WE MUST HAVE ANSWERS
Investigative Questions That Should Be Asked About The Killing of Roger Fortson
Dated: Monday May 20, 2024
First, and foremost, the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc. (NABLEO) wishes to extend its warm and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, who was shot and killed during an interaction with a law enforcement officer in Florida on May 3, 2024. While no amount of good will and best wishes can mitigate the hurt and remorse that you must now bear, we hope you will take solace in the knowledge and belief that, as an organization “In the community & FOR THE COMMUNITY”, we are here should you need us.
In communities of color throughout the United States, police use of deadly force, acts of misconduct and abuse have now seemingly grown to epidemic proportions. And the national outcry surrounding the death of Roger Fortson at the hands of a white Florida Sheriff’s Deputy has caused yet another rift in the fragile relationship between those in the law enforcement profession and the communities of color they are sworn to protect and serve.
While the official report of this sad episode has yet to be released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as a body of professional law enforcement and criminal justice practitioners, we find what may be considered as critical questions regarding this incident that should, and must, be answered to the satisfaction of all in order to provide any level of legitimacy to the process.
1. What were the parameters of the original 911 call that the officer was responding to? Was there any mention of weapons involved? Did the female neighbor have any specific knowledge of a domestic problem involving Fortson? Was there any past history of problem calls related to Fortson’s apartment?
2. Why did the Deputy not properly identify himself when he first knocked on the door to Fortson’s apartment? What purpose was it that he stepped away from the peephole which would have allowed Fortson to see who was standing there requesting entry?
3. As it appears that the Deputy had already drawn his weapon prior to Airman Fortson appearing at the door (evidenced by the immediate firing of his weapon within seconds of Fortson’s appearance), what occurred that caused him to do so? Was there any evidence of a violent episode taking place within the residence? Was the Deputy notified in advance that Airman Fortson may be armed when he came to the door?
4. The released bodycam video clearly and definitively appears to indicate that, while Fortson did in fact have a weapon in his right hand, it remained pointed down and non-threatening during the entire episode. While it must be recognized that any situation where an officer finds themselves facing an armed subject may warrant the use of force, as law enforcement officers we are trained to respond to an armed subject only when they actually attempt to use their weapon, not before. It should be noted that the weapon was legally owned by Fortson, and the mere presence of a weapon is not in and of itself cause for the use of deadly force.
5. This then also brings to the forefront the question of why Fortson was not ordered to drop his weapon immediately. It also begs the question of the officer’s training, or lack thereof, in proper de-escalation principles and practices.
As law enforcement officers, we recognize the distrust that is so often felt towards those whose job it is to protect the community. Yet it has become exceedingly clear that the relationships between police and the Black community have arrived at a critical crossroad and that a reckoning must now take place. For centuries, American law enforcement has been interwoven with slavery and segregation, and those memories cannot be easily erased. But no longer can it be claimed that these incidents are mere anomalies that rarely take place and are being taken out of context. No longer can we allow these incidents to occur without the leaders of our communities keeping us informed of the investigations every step of the way, insuring transparency and accountability. No longer can we disregard the disproportional deaths of Black lives at the hands of those whose duty is to protect.
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
