HOMEWOOD, Ala. - Weeks after the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jabari Peoples, his family is still seeking answers and transparency from the Homewood Police Department, including access to full bodycam footage and the identity of the officer involved.
The family was shown part of the bodycam footage this week, but not the full raw video, which they have a right to see by law. Protests continue, demanding transparency from the Homewood Police Department, including the release of the officer's identity.
Local criminal defense attorney Tommy Spina explained why the officer's name has not been made public.
"Well, I think the primary reason the police officer's name is kept under seal is for the protection of the police officer," Spina said. "There's no law out there that says that. That's just common sense. There's a lot of tension surrounding the facts and circumstances of this case. And, another crime could occur if his name or whereabouts or somebody came up to know who it was who were released publicly. Now, ultimately, that will come out. But at this point in time, especially when the tears are hot on the cheek, so to speak, I think for his safety is the reason you're not seeing his name being released. And I think that's prudent."
Spina acknowledged the officer is a public servant but emphasized the practical aspect of retaliation.
"You have to balance those two competing interests and. You know, I think to air on the side of caution is better. We already have one person dead. We don't want vigilante justice. That's not what our country is about."
He added that while people have a right to be angry, there could be other factors at play.
"We know there's a death. We know there was a police officer shooting, but there could be other things related that we don't know about that may be ongoing, that may be still within the investigation of ALEA and whatever ALEA is doing. So they don't want to compromise that if that exists. So, you know, I'm not saying it's right. But I'm also not particularly feeling that it's prudent to be releasing that officer's name and whereabouts today. For his safety."
The pursuit of transparency aims to provide the public with information about the officers involved, including their personnel files and training history. Requests for this information have been made to the Homewood Police Department, but no response has been received yet.
