A group of community leaders called Friday for the reinstatement of a public safety auditor after the release of video footage from an arrest by Omaha Police officers raised questions about the department's use of excessive force.
"Without that, we have no hand, no eyes, no ears inside the Police Department to make sure they're doing the right thing," said Mark Welsch, head of the city's chapter of Nebraskans for Peace.
Community groups, including the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, denounced the what they saw on the security camera footage -- police using force while taking Robert A. Wagner, 35, into custody outside Creighton University Medical Center shortly after Wagner's cousin was shot and killed May 29.
At one point, a female officer kicked Wagner repeatedly after he was on the ground.
City attorneys have said officers involved in the incident will not face criminal charges. Authorities said the tape does not show what happened before the arrest. Wagner has been charged with assault on an officer for allegedly pushing one officer and punching another.
"While we may not know the whole story, the images raise serious concern about police policies or lack thereof and the police's ability to treat people fairly," the local ACLU said in a statement.
"The incident shown in this video rocks the trust of the community and erodes the exact confidence the community must provide in order for the police to work effectively."
Wagner attended Friday's press conference, but declined to comment.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
