Justice
Why Police Cannot Be Trusted to Police Themselves
Two cases of alleged police brutality, two ways the system protected violent officers.
On July 27, former St. Louis Metropolitan Police officer Thomas A. Carroll was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for punching, kicking, and sticking a gun in the mouth of Michael Waller while Waller was handcuffed and in custody. Here’s how the U.S. Justice Department, which prosecuted Carroll on civil rights violation charges, described the crime in a press release:
Carroll’s actions were covered up by a “clique” of local prosecutors, including Bliss Worrell, 28, who was given 18 months of probation for her role. Other prosecutors involved may not be charged at all for lying to federal law enforcement officials about what Carroll did to Waller—as a trade for testifying against the offending officer.