Walter Wallace's murder highlighting the flaws of the police force
Law enforcement’s primary function is to protect the people, but on the afternoon of Oct. 26, 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr. was shot and killed by two police officers in front of his mother. Protesters filled the streets of Philadelphia after a video of Wallace’s murder was posted by JaHiem Simpson.
Simpson said that there was a commotion before the cops were called, and when Wallace exited the house with the knife, everyone told him to put it down. Simpson said that officers pulled their guns when they saw the knife.
Simpson’s video shows Wallace walking around one of the cars towards the officers, who were backing up quickly. By the time they both fired their weapons more than 14 times, Wallace was too far from them to have even attempted causing the officers harm.
Wallace’s family’s lawyer, Shaka Johnson, stated that the family had made three calls to the police that day. The first call was for an ambulance, and both Johnson and Wallace’s mother said that police had been at the scene earlier Monday.
Wallace struggled with bipolar disorder, and his family said that he was in crisis at the time of the shooting. He was receiving treatment for his mental disorder and his family stated that Wallace was a nonviolent person who was expecting a daughter with his wife, Dominique Wallace.
Oct. 29, Philadelphia Police met with Wallace’s family and Johnson to review the body camera footage of the shooting. Wallace’s family and Johnson stated that the footage proves that Wallace was in the middle of a mental breakdown.
Johnson stated, "None of the 14 shots were necessary, but if you were going to shoot, the first shot incapacitated the man. There were 13 shots to follow, which is why he is no longer with us.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw stated that she thought it was important for Wallace’s family to see the footage before it was released to the public. She admitted that neither officer had a taser and that the department has previously asked for more funding to provide them.
June 2, Juliana Feliciano Reyes of The Philadelphia Inquirer covered the Philadelphia Police Department’s $14 million increase in funding.
“About one-quarter of the city’s proposed $4.9 billion budget is allocated to criminal justice. Police ($760 million) and prisons ($217 million) make up 20% of the proposed general fund budget.”
What was that about not having the money to buy tasers again, Outlaw?
The figures below demonstrate that a police taser can cost anywhere from $60/month for the newest taser, docks, batteries and cartridges, integration with Axon Evidence, and full user training and certification to $850 for the taser alone.
TASER X2 $499.00 TASER X26P $849.95 TASER 7 $60/month
Glock 22 $469.99 LaserMax Sight $239.99 Streamlight TLR-7 $174.95
On the other hand, the traditional Glock 22 fully equipped with a laser and flashlight can cost upwards of $900. Given the dramatic increase in budget, one wonders where that money is going if it’s not to preparing officers for their jobs.
Police still will not confirm what information responding officers received, whether they had been informed about Wallace’s mental illness, or how many calls they had received for help at Wallace’s address.
Outlaw said that the officers involved have been placed on desk duty until the investigation is complete. She said that the officer’s names and other identifying information, including race, will be withheld to ensure the safety of the two responding officers.
There could be no bigger call-to-action than the constant injustices minorities experience at the hands of the people hired to protect us. This isn’t anything new, technology has just given us the chance to see it with our own eyes. There is no better protest than voting on or before Nov. 3.
