DOWNEY COUNCIL FINALLY SPEAKS TO FAMILY OF MAN KILLED BY COPS
By Downey Beat
DOWNEY (Via DowneyBeat.com)—For the first time, the Downey City Council addressed the family and friends of Michael Nida, a 31-year-old South Gate resident who was unarmed and not involved in any crime when he was killed by a Downey Police officer Oct. 22 while out on a date with his wife.
Mayor Roger Brossmer said members of the City Council had previously declined to address the issue because it was facing a potential lawsuit from Nida’s family and was trying to avoid influencing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation Brossmer also said the council could not take action on suggestions from the audience due to the Brown Act, which prohibits a City Council from voting on something without giving advance notice to the public.
“The council members and the police chief assure you that we do care,” Brossmer said.
Civil rights activist Steve Figueroa said the city was hiding behind the Brown Act to avoid facing Nida’s family.
Teri Ramirez, a close friend of Nida’s family, said although she appreciated the words from Brossmer, his remarks were “too little, too late and not enough.”
Nida’s family and friends are planning a march and rally at the site of the killing—Imperial Highway and Paramount Boulevard—on Saturday, Jan. 28, at noon.
2 Comments
In my view, whenever police officers deploy deadly force in the line of duty, especially when the suspect is killed, there is no reason that elected and appointed officials from that jurisdiction cannot express sorrow for the loss, concern for the loved ones, and assurances that they will make every effort to ensure that the subesequent investigations will be completed as quickly and as openly as both law and due diligence allows.
There is simply no excuse for government spokespersons to remain entirely silent in such cases.
amen to that.