OMAHA—The latest charges of police brutality caught on tape
have re-energized at least one mayoral candidate’s demand for an independent
police auditor.
Republican Dave
Nabity—who as Nebraska Watchdog first reported is the only candidate pushing
for the return of the auditor— calls the video (see it below) “disturbing on a
number of fronts.”
Nabity’s comments came shortly after Police Chief Todd
Schmaderer called for an internal investigation into the incident, which
according to police occurred near 33rd and Seward on the city’s north side.
The video finds more than a dozen police swarming a home
after one officer threw an individual to the ground.
According to a statement from spokesperson Lt. Darcy
Tierney, an officer was “addressing an ongoing neighborhood parking complaint
when a disturbance erupted.”
Tierney says the chief will determine what actions to take
after the investigation is complete.
No timetable was announced but the statement did say that
due to the city’s contract with the Omaha Police Union, the department “cannot
comment specifically on personnel matters.”
Earlier today, Republican mayoral candidate Jean Stothert
publicly repeated her opposition to the auditor’s post.
She made the comments — which appeared to be unrelated to
the video — during a noon debate.
Nabity argues that without the independent investigator,
crime, especially in north Omaha, is unlikely to slow down.
“There is no way that the residents in a high-crime area are
going to cooperate with law enforcement as long as these activities are
allowed,” said Nabity.
The video was apparently shot by a neighbor and posted
online.