The Lawrence Kansas Police Chief Rich Lockhart has released a statement regarding a critical press release from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office made public criticisms it had of the department’s communication efforts and social media usage. Recent video clips that were released online are the primary subject of the complaints from the District Attorney. The office says that several published video clips are often edited in a way that, ‘They are not representative of the entire incident for which individuals may or may not be criminally charged by the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.’ The press release also criticized social media posts that label people in the videos as “criminals.”The specific post that the press release was likely in reference to featured dashcam video showing the arrest of two men suspected of shooting at a nearby group of people. The caption on the posted video originally read as follows, “Criminals: Please do not run. Do not drive by an officer shooting a gun while hanging out the window. We will catch you. We will arrest you.” Chief Lockhart did not respond to the specific issues mentioned in the Douglas County press release, but he did defend his department’s efforts for transparency with the public. “Our team is committed to transparency as part of our ongoing efforts to build trust with our community. I am extremely proud of the professional men and women in our department who work hard to help keep us all safe and secure every day.” Lockhart said. The District Attorney’s office said that the Lawrence police need to avoid interfering with the integrity of ongoing investigations. Though this office strongly favors accountability and transparency,” The DA’s office said. “We must not lose sight of the fundamental rights of those accused of criminal conduct. By law, despite what may be circulating across social media or in the press, the individuals depicted in those recordings remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law; not a court of public opinion.”The DA closed its release by saying it respected law enforcement but did not want to compromise the administration of justice.
The Lawrence Kansas Police Chief Rich Lockhart has released a statement regarding a critical press release from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
The DA’s office made public criticisms it had of the department’s communication efforts and social media usage.
Recent video clips that were released online are the primary subject of the complaints from the District Attorney.
The office says that several published video clips are often edited in a way that, ‘They are not representative of the entire incident for which individuals may or may not be criminally charged by the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.’
The press release also criticized social media posts that label people in the videos as “criminals.”
The specific post that the press release was likely in reference to featured dashcam video showing the arrest of two men suspected of shooting at a nearby group of people.
The caption on the posted video originally read as follows, “Criminals: Please do not run. Do not drive by an officer shooting a gun while hanging out the window. We will catch you. We will arrest you.”
Chief Lockhart did not respond to the specific issues mentioned in the Douglas County press release, but he did defend his department’s efforts for transparency with the public.
“Our team is committed to transparency as part of our ongoing efforts to build trust with our community. I am extremely proud of the professional men and women in our department who work hard to help keep us all safe and secure every day.” Lockhart said.
The District Attorney’s office said that the Lawrence police need to avoid interfering with the integrity of ongoing investigations.
Though this office strongly favors accountability and transparency,” The DA’s office said. “We must not lose sight of the fundamental rights of those accused of criminal conduct. By law, despite what may be circulating across social media or in the press, the individuals depicted in those recordings remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law; not a court of public opinion.”
The DA closed its release by saying it respected law enforcement but did not want to compromise the administration of justice.
