Former police boss denies cover-up in Ronald Greene death

Source: Associated Press

Former police boss denies cover-up in Ronald Greene death

By JIM MUSTIAN and JAKE BLEIBERG
March 15, 2022

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards trusted Louisiana State Police to “do the right thing” and took a hands-off approach in police matters, even after Black motorist Ronald Greene died in a violent confrontation with troopers following a high-speed chase, the former head of the agency told state lawmakers Tuesday.

Kevin Reeves distanced himself — and the Democratic governor — from the investigation of Greene’s 2019 death during a three-hour bipartisan grilling that included accusations of racism and gross negligence by the state’s premier law enforcement agency.

The hearing became heated at times as lawmakers expressed incredulity and frustration in Reeves’ demurrals and refusal to condemn the white troopers captured on body camera video punching, stunning and dragging Greene during his fatal arrest on a rural roadside in northeast Louisiana.

Lawmakers alternatively described his disengagement as “unacceptable” and “suspicious” and promised to continue digging into the case.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/death-of-ronald-greene-louisiana-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-john-bel-edwards-07f746b676aa32a1da691db9f3e644e5