To: Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill
Salt Lake County D.A. Sim Gill to Convene a Grand Jury on the Shooting of Patrick Harmon
Convene a grand jury on the shooting of Patrick Harmon
Why is this important?
Patrick Harmon was shot and killed by Salt Lake City police officer Kris Smith on August 13, 2017 after being stopped while riding his bike. District Attorney Sim Gill ruled the shooting justifiable despite video evidence that showed a man being shot while running away from officers and therefore no longer a viable threat. (1)
Gill may be under pressure from the Fraternal Order of Police and former officers who were fired or prosecuted due to their roles in deadly shootings. (2) As a result, Gill is under investigation by the Utah State Bar which licenses attorneys. He also sent inquiries of the background of officers who ever testified to determine whether or not they had bias and issues of credibility much to the chagrin of the Salt Lake City Police Union (Fraternal Order of Police). (3)
A Grand Jury is a fact finding body within the court system, but the power to convene a Grand Jury investigation rests with the District Attorney. May it be a jury of his peers which under the law Patrick Harmon had a right to according to the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. (4) According to the last U. S. Census, Salt Lake City's demographics, African-Americans are less than 4% of the total population. (5) His death represents a disproportionate number of African-American victims of police brutality and police misconduct. With a Grand Jury more evidence can be introduced as to the extent of how many others have been victims whose cases were settled or never brought to light. It can also show officers, who are public servants, disciplinary records and complaints.
1. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/08/us/patrick-harmon-utah-police-shooting/index.html
2. http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-utah-state-news-/bar-complaints-filed-against-salt-lake-county-district-attorney-sim-gill/204901266
3. http://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/10/04/are-you-a-cop-who-has-lied-on-the-job-salt-lake-county-prosecutors-want-to-know-before-you-testify-in-court/
4. https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/sixth_amendment
5. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/saltlakecitycityutah/RHI225216
Gill may be under pressure from the Fraternal Order of Police and former officers who were fired or prosecuted due to their roles in deadly shootings. (2) As a result, Gill is under investigation by the Utah State Bar which licenses attorneys. He also sent inquiries of the background of officers who ever testified to determine whether or not they had bias and issues of credibility much to the chagrin of the Salt Lake City Police Union (Fraternal Order of Police). (3)
A Grand Jury is a fact finding body within the court system, but the power to convene a Grand Jury investigation rests with the District Attorney. May it be a jury of his peers which under the law Patrick Harmon had a right to according to the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. (4) According to the last U. S. Census, Salt Lake City's demographics, African-Americans are less than 4% of the total population. (5) His death represents a disproportionate number of African-American victims of police brutality and police misconduct. With a Grand Jury more evidence can be introduced as to the extent of how many others have been victims whose cases were settled or never brought to light. It can also show officers, who are public servants, disciplinary records and complaints.
1. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/08/us/patrick-harmon-utah-police-shooting/index.html
2. http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-utah-state-news-/bar-complaints-filed-against-salt-lake-county-district-attorney-sim-gill/204901266
3. http://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/10/04/are-you-a-cop-who-has-lied-on-the-job-salt-lake-county-prosecutors-want-to-know-before-you-testify-in-court/
4. https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/sixth_amendment
5. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/saltlakecitycityutah/RHI225216