Omaha Police Department: Doing What is Right?
OMAHA (KPTM) - It has been three years since the city of Omaha has funded a police auditor. Now some groups want the auditor back. It has been a long fight for these groups but it's a fight they told Fox 42 is worth it.
Some may say that Robert Wagner has become the 'poster child' for police brutality in Omaha.
In May of 2011, Wagner was mourning the death of a friend at an area hospital. As seen from a video taken outside the Creighton Medical Center on May 29th, Wagner was taken to the ground and handcuffed.
Police said Wagner became violent and threw a punch at an officer, which caused the officers to use force.
No one from the department was available to talk to us on Sunday. But last year, Douglas County Attorney, Don Kleine told Fox 42, "Certainly there are things that occurred, and the police department is dealing with that. But that doesn't take away from what initially happened which is assaulting a police officer."
Two officers have been placed on leave.
Mark Welsh has studied this film over and over.
"I'm disgusted with all of the officers that were participating in this take down beat down or Robert Wagner," he said.
Welsh thinks Wagner never became violent and officers used too much force.
"Why weren't more officers fired when they were caught on tape either holding him down or beating and kicking Robert Wagner," he said.
Welsh hopes stories like Wagner's come out during Monday's public forum on policing issues.
"This is the number one message I hope gets through to the police chief and the mayor. That this city needs a zero tolerance for police violence against our citizens," Welsh said.
The public forum is Monday night at 6:30 in the Omaha City Council Chambers.