WebKenneth Chamberlain, Sr. was fatally shot on November 19, 2011, in White Plains, New York. We have a city thats still continuing to refuse to admit any type of wrongdoing in his death. But it remains highly uncertain whether Chamberlain's family will ever obtain any measure of justice for a senseless death that could have been avoided if police had not decided to treat a man they were ostensibly trying to help as a dangerous criminal. The motion concluded that Officer Carelli used deadly force only as a last resort.. Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. opens up about his fathers killing, gives his thoughts on the film, and explains his perfect case scenario in the aftermath of his fathers death. Zenger: I did not know your father, but I feel Frankie Faison through his amazing acting abilities made us feel like we knew Mr. Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. To see the product he put out, how did his performance make you feel? Chamberlain tells the officers hes fine and that hitting the alert was an accident, but their mounting frustrations and unhealthy valuation of their time causes them to dig their heels in deeper as a point of unwarranted pride. Mr. Chamberlains former home. The agency also tried to cancel its request for a police call. Because the officers couldnt get access to his apartment, they created imaginary scenarios in their heads that the man was up to no good. No charges were filed in the fatal shooting. Video and 911 tapes reveal what happened before police shot and killed Kenneth Chamberlain. As part of this informative post, you will find videos and books to increase your enlightment. What we need to see is accountability. The officers said Chamberlain charged at Martin, knife in hand, leaving Carelli no choice. Between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., the police officers worked with various tools to pry open the apartment door. We've heard politicians promise police reform and not deliver results. "I thought I was going to get stabbed." The group has called on officials in White Plains to appoint an independent civilian review board for the Police Department. Accordingly, this Offices investigation into Mr. Chamberlains death has been closed. Seeing the heavily armed officers breaking into his apartment despite his insistence that they had no reason to be there, Chamberlain was understandably alarmed. The appeals court disagreed. these are the lessons of this agonizing year, and where to go from here. No criminal charge was laid against the police officers involved. Our patience was rewarded. The officers called for additional back-up, and four additional officers were dispatched to the apartment with tactical gear, including Police Officers Anthony Carelli and Steven Hart, and Sergeant Stephen Fottrell. Chamberlain was a 68-year-old, black, retired Marine, and a 20-year Exactly the opposite of what the cops did in White Plains. The last time I actually really saw my father other than the funeral was at the hospital with his eyes wide open, his tongue hanging out of his mouth and two bullet holes in his chest. Edited by Kristen Butler and Judith Isacoff. The consequences have been dire: the home is no longer a place of sanctuary, the Fourth Amendment has been gutted, and police today have been conditioned to see the citizens they serve as enemies. Unable to contact Chamberlain via its two-way audio box, LifeAid called the White Plains Department of Public Safety. What is de-escalation? WebIn the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2011, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a 68-year-old former Marine with a heart condition and a history of mental health challenges, Stolen Lives Killed by Law Enforcement (2nd edition). There are times where I get zero sleep. Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was fatally shot by White Plains police officers | Mr. Chamberlain can be heard on the audiotape, made available by the medical-alert agency that recorded the encounter, telling the officers that he was all right and asking them to leave. David Patterson is an American author and philanthropist. While activists may place Mr. Chamberlains death in the context of police misconduct nationwide, the citys Department of Public Safety has aggressively defended itself against the $21 million wrongful death lawsuit and charges that it acted inappropriately. Director David Midell released the award-winning film in 2019 detailing the tumultuous events of that night. In Westchester County, where my father was killed, themobile crisis prevention and responseteam doesn't have enough of a presence in the community. WebThe family of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a black, mentally ill man killed in his White Plains, N.Y., apartment during a police confrontation in 2011, had its civil rights claims of Public Service Announcement on Sexual Assault in Public Housing. But in legal motions filed in recent weeks, the citys lawyers have portrayed Mr. Chamberlain as a threat in the seconds before he was shot by Officer Anthony Carelli. Chamberlain "shouted repeatedly that he was convinced that the police were there to kill him." Cop in Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain IDd, Sued in 2008 Racism Case. But for the fact that we have the tapes, we would not be able to present this story that weve had to the public and make our demands that the tapes be released (and) that the officers name be released as well., ABH Fresh Flowers and Live Indoor Plants. Kenneth Chamberlain Jr.is the co-founder of theWestchester Coalition for Police Reform. The absence of a mental health professional on that police call is a recipe for escalation,violence and possibly death, as we've seen in the case of my father and many others. 1 of 2 DemocracyNow.org In a broadcast exclusive, we reveal the name of the police officer who allegedly killed 68-year-old Kenneth Chamberlain, the retired African-American Marine who was shot dead in his own home in White Plains, New York, in November after he inadvertently triggered his medical-alert pendant. I actually apologize to people when they watch the film, and they say, Why? And I say, I want to apologize for any trauma that this may trigger in you.. Theyhad no business taunting him and calling him the N-word. President, I cant hold them back; they are breaking through, said Debra S. Cohen, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlains family, which has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of White Plains and the officer who fired the fatal shot. When I read that line, I was heartened. So, I said the only thing we can hope for now is some sort of accountability in his killing. This is the highest standard of intent imposed by law, and is different from and higher than the intent standard under relevant state statutes. COLUMN:Does Black Lives Matter apply to immigrants as well? What followed was an escalating series of events inflamed by demonstrable police mishandling of the situation,explicit racial biasand sheer arrogance that ended when heavily armed police officers wearing tactical gear forced their way into his apartment where one of them shot him. As captured on the Life Aid recording, Mr. Chamberlains sister informed Officer Carelli that Mr. Chamberlain had a mental problem, and Officer Carelli responded that the officers wanted to enter the apartment to make sure Mr. Chamberlain was okay. The recording also indicates that as the officers continued to try to open the door, Mr. Chamberlain became increasingly agitated; he at times threatened the officers; and he told the Life Aid operator that he had a weapon. Click here for information on the investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department. While the City of White Plains has introduced new procedures since the killing of Mr. Chamberlain, some advocates say police attitudes need to change as well. On November 19, 2011, we watched the news about Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr. A 68 year old retired United States Marine. Three years later, the court dismissed several more claims. Chamberlain called LifeAid, saying, "The White Plains Police Department [is] banging on my door and I did not call them and I am not sick." To comment or make suggestions on future posts, use Contact Us. "Every time we come to the door he sticks a knife out," one of them complained. During the trial, Carelli testified that he had "no other option" but to shoot Chamberlain "to protect the other officers." After his LifeAid medical alert was accidentally triggered, police came to his home After conducting a thorough and independent investigation, the U.S. Attorneys Office has determined that there is insufficient evidence to meet the high burden of proof required for a federal criminal civil rights prosecution. Unfortunately, this is an incomplete record, but an important reminder just the same. Viral Video Shows Racist Karen Use N-Word And Then Get Beat Until She Apologized, Lisa Bonet: The Life And Career Of Hollywood's Famous Rebel, Prominent Black Professionals Sue Hulu Over 94 Freaknik Documentary Release, Why Did tWitch Kill Himself? I was speaking to someone who watched the movie and they said, This movie could have been over so many times already. The first time he said I didnt call you. That is the feeling with that it could have been handled so many different ways, and thats something else that we are pushing as well. However, police claim that Chamberlain charged them with a knife. Training in those techniques reportedly is one of the reforms favored by Republican senators. | Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was fatally shot by White Plains police This is a video that you can buy or rent. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks ] Only one of the many officers involved stood trial, and only on the question of whether it was legally reasonable for him to shoot my father. The tears will start to fall. "It was further established that a warrantless entry in response to a medical concern is unlawful absent probable cause to believe that a person inside is in immediate danger.". We receive a small royalty without cost to you. At that point, Officer Carelli shot his pistol twice from inside the doorway. What does justice look like for Kenneth Chamberlain Sr? And I say, after a decade-long fight and still fighting, there is no such thing as justice because justice is immediate. See the videos that accompany this post. The alleged shooter, Officer Anthony Carelli, is due in court later this month in an unrelated 2008 police brutality case. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 5.1.2023 3:52 PM, Joe Lancaster Emma Camp The killing of the woman, Deborah Danners, 66, who was black, was met with denunciations by local leaders and a protest march. While one of the officers was alleged to have used a racial slur in communicating with Mr. Chamberlain, that officer was not involved in the shooting, and none of the other officers present heard the use of such a slur. He later died at the hospital. On November 17, 2016, a federal jury in a civil case filed by Mr. Chamberlains family concluded that the City of White Plains and the officer who shot Mr. Chamberlain were not liable for the death of Mr. Chamberlain. They shot him at least twice with tasers, shot him 4 times with bean bags (less than lethal) shotguns before murdering him in his own apartment. officer would not have determined there was probable cause to believe that Chamberlain grabbed a kitchen knife to fend off the intruders. At approximately 5:25 a.m., Life Aid received a second call from Mr. Chamberlain, who stated, I have the White Plains Police Department banging on my door and I did not call them, and I am not sick. Life Aid attempted to cancel the dispatch, but the WPPD dispatcher informed Life Aid that the police officers needed to enter the apartment to make sure Mr. Chamberlain was not in distress. To see the posts, click here. During that time period, the recordings captured the near constant communications between the police officers trying to enter the apartment and Mr. Chamberlain, who refused to open the door. In the early morning hours of Nov.19, 2011, Kenneth ChamberlainSr., a 68-year-old former Marine with a heart condition and a history ofmentalhealthchallenges, accidentally pressed the button on his medical alert pager while sleeping. WebFreeman and partner Lori McCreary exec produce the film, which follows the final minutes of Kenneth Chamberlain's life before he was killed by police in 2011. tactical reinforcements," the 2nd Circuit says. Much centers on the subject of Qualified Immunity. Accordingly, the Department of Justice cannot conclude or prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a federal criminal civil rights violation. As a result, our country has generally worked to keep the military out of law enforcement. Receiving no response, the operator then called the WPPD and informed the dispatcher that she had received a medical alert from Mr. Chamberlains apartment and that Mr. Chamberlain had not responded to her call. So, what were the exercises of the most recent year? He was shot to death after a call triggered by his LifeAid medical alert necklace was inadvertently triggered. Those amazing offers that you have seen on TV are here and there is no better place to get then than here! The post Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. Seeks Accountability And Closure In Fathers Killing By Police appeared first on Zenger News. Mr. Chamberlain was 68 years old at the time. Butrecent eventshave shown us that we were right to stay the course and keep fighting. In 2013 a federal judge dismissed several claims against the White Plains officers based on qualified immunity, which shields officials from liability when the rights they allegedly violated were not "clearly established" at the time. We care about your data. of Mississippi for a police training center. We both benefit when you use these links. He didnt ask me one thing about my father. He read the script. After a stand-off that lasted an hour, the authorities pried the door open. The LifeAid operator called the police dispatcher, trying to cancel the supposed rescue attempt. Police officers sometimes forget that their job is to defuse a situation and not create one. In fact, there is an entire museum in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to 4,400 lynching victims. Thats what I will continue to push and continue to fight for. What were the qualifications of the defense witnesses? But thats what these governments are hoping for. Enjoy the benefits of Prime at almost 50% off the regular monthly price. But for the fact that we have the tapes, we would not be able to present this story that weve had to the public and make our demands that the tapes be released (and) that the officers name be released as well.. Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was killed during a 90-minute confrontation with White Plains cops in his apartment on Nov. 19, 2011. Upon arriving at Mr. Chamberlains apartment, the officers banged on the door and asked to be admitted to confirm he did not need assistance, but Mr. Chamberlain refused to allow the officers to enter the apartment. That turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. The family of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a black, mentally ill man killed in his White Plains, N.Y., apartment during a police confrontation in 2011, had its civil rights claims of excessive force reinstated by the Second Circuit on Monday. Mr. Chamberlains son, Kenneth Jr., calls his fathers death a murder, arguing that the police should never have forced their way into the apartment in the first place. Now, more than four months later, a grand jury is scheduled to convene this week to hear the details of the incident and determine if the police committed a crime. Officer Anthony Carelli fired the fatal shot. Was it "clearly established" at the time that forcibly entering Chamberlain's home without a warrant based on "exigent circumstances" that did not exist violated the Fourth Amendment's ban on "unreasonable searches"? "You a grown-ass man." Since that terrible day, my life has revolved around a quest for justice, which got one step closer in Maywhen an appeals court reverseda federal judge's decision to, among other things, allow the officers in the case to usequalified immunitycurrently under fire across the country as an escape valve for police who break the law. We document who they were as people, the details surrounding their deaths, as well as if there were any arrests or convictions of officers involved. The legal team for Mr. Chamberlains son said officials in White Plains were preparing for possible demonstrations after the trial begins. Chamberlains son said he agrees but notes that the White Plains police failed to grant his father the same opportunity. We believe that information is necessary for a well run society and we are dedicated to that end. Zenger: There are no signs of you giving up this fight, but Im sure this has been an exhausting process for you? That would be my perfect world. Randolph McLaughlin, the lawyer representing Chamberlain's family, disputed that account, saying Chamberlain was on the floor when he was shot. The familys lawyer Mayo Bartlett has said: The minute they got in the house, they didnt even give him one command. WebKenneth Chamberlain was shot and killed by police after being zapped with a stun gun during a conflict in his White Plains, New York, apartment last November. POLICING THE USA:A look at race, justice, media. | Inspiring Stories of Black History and Achievement. Thank you for your support. I dont want to look at trainings and stuff like that because thats usually the knee-jerk response when things like this happen. And Chamberlain himself firmly and repeatedly informed the officers that he had not called for help and was not in need of assistance of any kind, let alone urgent medical aid.". Zenger: Was listening to the Life Alert audio and actually hearing your fathers voice one of the more difficult parts of watching, The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain?. But the incident has been increasingly gaining traction via social media sites like Twitter, Facebook. George Floyd: jury sees Derek Chauvin as liable for homicide What were the responses? Chamberlain is heard on recordings of the case as it is unfolding calling attention that he is going to be killed by the police, which was prophetic. The audio recording which has been preserved shows police cursing and calling Chamberlain the N-word which was totally uncalled for and shows what is permitted by the White Plains police. Even when it is apparent that they are overreacting, they are time and time again cleared of any wrongdoing by people that are not treated in this way. At our age, members of the Class of 48 have an abundance of free timeand Joyce Van Denburgh Doty, MFA 50, made excellent use of it with a detailed response to the Share Your News form.. Perhaps invigorated by the oxygen she uses (though she never smoked, she presumes she inhaled others), she goes beyond her There is no physical or other evidence that contradicts these accounts, nor is there any video of the shooting itself, as the Taser video stopped recording after the Tasers were deployed. Click here to report information on Amazon warehouses. The police union has blasted the release of the officers name, saying he deserves the right to a fair and impartial inquiry. But now the family of Mr. Chamberlain, who was black and mentally ill, will have its day in federal court next week in a newly charged environment, in which the Black Lives Matter movement has gained notice across the country and protests against the police have focused attention on how law enforcement conducts itself in African-American neighborhoods. After a long stand-off with the police, who ridiculed Chamberlains military service At every step, the officers seemed determined to turn an accidental medical alertan alert theyknew was accidentalinto a death sentence. WebOn Nov. 19, 2011, White Plains police were called to the home of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. after his medical alarm went off. I am a hero to some and troublemaker to others. It depends on what side of the fence youre standing on. WebOnce Mr. Chamberlain fell to the ground, Officer Steven Demchuk used his baton to strike Mr. Chamberlains wrist to make him drop the knife. Three and a halfyears after the civil trial,a panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York reversed the federalcourt judges rulings on a number of the claimsincluding her findings on unlawful entry, the use of excessive forceand qualified immunity and remanded the case back to the lower court for further hearings. Despite his report that he did not need assistance, the police broke down Chamberlains door, tasered him, and then shot and killed him. A perfect world, I would have my dad back and we would all live happily ever after. According to a report in New York magazine: Chamberlain reportedly yelled, Semper fi, to which officers responded, Hoo-rah! Another told Chamberlain they needed to use his bathroom. This is covered in the videos below. WHITE PLAINS Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. had accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant early one morning five years ago. Could you elaborate on that? To see the full listing of posts, click on our Blog list, For Black History Month 2020, we posted daily. Our Office opened an investigation following the decision by a New York State grand jury not to indict any of the officers involved. Chamberlain, who was allegedly miffed that he had been awakened, had refused to open the door. It seems as if they were on a mission to annihilate him. After the second Taser was deployed, the Taser automatically ceased recording. Democrats and Republicans in Congress are arguing about the details, while more African Americans are being traumatized by police, threatened during protests and attacked by law enforcement for exercising their civil rights. Officers have testified that Carelli shot Chamberlain as the 68-year-old man rushed toward Martin while holding a knife and after threatening to kill officers. And on that day, a jury will hear all the evidence. We know that police officers are not mental health professionals. No footage beyond that of what happened inside the apartment has surfaced. What my experience has taught me, and I hope can inspire others burdened with a similar tragic responsibility to a loved one killed by police action, is that justice delayed is notalwaysjustice denied. They broke into his home without cause, dressed for battle, and gunned him down because he had the temerity to defend himself. These posts focus on the reality of Black life in America after the Civil War culminating in the landmark Brown v Board of Education that changed so many of the earlier practices. Suicide Note Revealed After Shocking Death, To Alabama Gov. For example, the recordings show that the officers at the door repeatedly told Mr. Chamberlain that they could not leave until they could see him and make sure he was okay, and Mr. Chamberlain responded that he was okay and fine, but also cursed at the officers, and at one point said he would kill whoever came through the door. One St. Andrews Plaza - New York, NY 10007, Human Trafficking & Child Sexual Exploitation, Department of Justice Harassment Prevention Resource. In June 2020, the Second Circuit of Appeals ruled a federal judge was wrong to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the police for excessive use of force. COLUMN:Ending police violence begins with cutting Pentagon money, militarization program. Had I not been as relentless as I am, you wouldnt know about him. Its just that powerful, and each time I have the same reaction, especially at the end. The last days of colonialism taught Americas revolutionaries that soldiers in the streets bring conflict and tyranny. Chamberlain Jr: It takes me on a rollercoaster ride because Frankie Faison does such an excellent job of portraying my father. Cop in Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain IDd, Sued in 2008 Racism Case. Instead they ended up killing him. But I have played the audio over and over again. Now the cops, who had already viewed Chamberlain as a threat requiring "tactical reinforcements," were even more convinced. It meant that evidence showing the police unlawfully entered my fathers apartment and used excessive force against him could not be heard at trial. Copyright 2023. But the sad truth is, 4,400 were only the reported ones. There will be some really small print that allows you to delete that particular item. Real Times Media. The Office expresses no view regarding any claims made against any party under the standard applicable to civil cases, which is proof by a preponderance of the evidence. As seen on the video recorded by Sergeant Fottrells Taser, Mr. Chamberlain was standing about six to seven feet from the doorway when the door was opened and there appeared to be an object in his right hand. But the officers insisted on checking on Mr. Chamberlain in person. Mr. Kim expressed his deep sympathy to the family of Mr. Chamberlain for their tragic loss. The autopsy report indicates that Mr. Chamberlains death was caused by the bullet shot by Officer Carelli. Anderson Cooper looks at how the confrontation between police and Kenneth Chamberlain escalated before he was killed. Required fields are marked *. Zenger: I am sure you have upset a lot of people along the way because you are relentless in your pursuit. After the Tasers were deployed, one of the officers fired non-lethal beanbag ammunition rounds, striking Mr. Chamberlain in his chest and thigh. The officers refused to let Chamberlain talk to his niece, who lived in the same building, or his sister, who was on the line with LifeAid from her home in North Carolina. Louisville reaches $2 million settlement with Kenneth Walker That you become so exhausted that you shut down, you say you cant do it anymore. We dont understand it. They had no business breaking down his door. All the information he received is available through freedom of information. Chamberlain suffered from mental illness due to his time in the military. Please click here for further information. The police commissioner, David E. Chong, declined to comment on the case, citing the pending litigation.