NOPD Release Bodycam Of Two Fatal Officer Involved Shootings

555 New Orleans, LA - A pair of New Orleans officers who fired shots that killed two suspects in separate cases were cleared late last year. On Wednesday, as part of a new department policy to promote transparency, the body-worn camera footage that helped clear the officers was released to the public."This is about being transparent to everyone. This is about being accountable to everyone. Accountable to the citizens, but accountable to ourselves. Accountable to the profession," NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said upon releasing the videos. One video is from January 7, 2015, in which police say Omarr Jackson fired one shot at officers during a foot chase before being fatally hit by one of them, Officer Matthew Bencik.The body camera from Bencik's partner shows that the case began as a routine traffic stop. Calm and cordial conversation can be heard between the officers and the driver of the stopped vehicle. There is a pause in the video as the officers retreat to their patrol car to use their dashboard computer to check a driver's license. But when they return and ask the driver to step outside, Jackson bolts. The officers give chase, with Bencik firing four shots after police say Jackson fired first. Jackson fell to the ground on Josephine Street in Central City, later dying of his wounds. "These videos eliminate the he-said, she-said arguments that happen with citizens in the community. It's a very unbiased way to look at the incident," Harrison said. The second video shows the fatal shooting of Jared Johnson on April 25 when officers responded to the armed robbery of a Dollar General store on Chef Menteur Highway. In the video, we see tense moments as officers walk in a crouch along the side of the building until they near a rear door. As they peer around the corner with their guns raised, Johnson bolts from the exit, briefly flashing a shiny object, later found to be a handgun. The officers - Clifford Thompson and Joshua Carthon - fire six shots each at Johnson, killing him on the spot.The release of these body camera videos comes as part of a new policy by the department to show more videos in the future for what they determine to be "critical incidents." The chief said some videos may be even be released before a final disciplinary ruling on the officers involved.

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