Policeman Shoots Black Man, then Named Officer of the Year

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

The Pleasantville Police Department in New York upset the African American community by giving an Officer of the Year Award to the policeman who shot a young black college student in a racially-volatile incident.  Danroy “DJ” Henry was shot by officer Aaron Hess last year at a night club under questionable circumstances.

“The (Pleasantville Police Benevolent Association’s) Award is an expression of support for the dignified and professional manner in which Officer Hess has conducted himself throughout this ordeal,” wrote President Matthew Listwan in a statement.

Hess shot into Henry’s car on October 17 after the officer inexplicably landed on the young man’s hood.  Henry, who was 20 years old on the night he died, is accused by officers of being drunk behind the wheel and speeding away without stopping according to the officers’ instructions.  The family claims that Henry was following orders to drive away when Officer Hess jumped in front of the car.  Henry’s family attorney, Michael Sussman, says that firing at a moving vehicle and jumping in front of it are violations of state law and department rules.

Listwan says that Officer Hess fired at Henry “while desperately clinging to the hood of a car, and only after being struck by the motor vehicle driven by a highly intoxicated DJ Henry.”

“Officer Hess has been subjected to false and defamatory comments by some of the media and by irresponsible lawyers seeking to profit from what is a tragedy for the Henry family and the Hess family,” Listwan added.

A Grand Jury found no reason to indict Hess and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice has been on-going.

“It just seems weird to us that they would honor him while he’s still under investigation by the Department of Justice,” Henry’s mother, Angella Henry, said.  The family has filed a $120 million civil suit in federal court.

I wrote about the shooting of DJ Henry earlier this year.  The case was disturbing for a few reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I couldn’t help but wonder why this intoxicated young man was behind the wheel in the first place.  The culture of drinking till you throw up every weekend is pervasive on college campuses (especially among athletes), and we must encourage our children to avoid these situations at all costs.  Additionally, we know the long history of bad interactions between black men and the police.  I am personally sickened every time I read about something bad happening to a black male in a night club after a long night of drinking.

With that said, I am saddened that the police officers union showed the gross insensitivity of giving Officer Hess an award for shooting this young man.  The fact is that the events surrounding October 17th are ambiguous at best, with different people giving various accounts of what happened.  Officer Hess is still under investigation and has not been fully cleared by the Department of Justice.  By naming him Officer of the Year and directly linking the award to the shooting of DJ Henry, the officer’s union makes the department appear to be incredibly irresponsible.  The death of a young person is nothing to celebrate.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition.  To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.