Editorial: New Troy police questions

THE ISSUE:

A video renews concerns about the way Troy police treat unarmed civilians.

THE STAKES:

Top city officials need to speak out and assure citizens that a thorough investigation and a proper response are coming.

After the latest credible allegations of brutality inflicted on an unarmed civilian by Troy police, it's time for Mayor Patrick Madden to assure residents that the matter is being taken seriously.

Mr. Madden, who is in his third year as the Collar City's mayor, has deftly avoided the bruising verbal exchanges we've become accustomed to in Troy politics. This approach can diminish community conflict, an admirable goal in Troy.

But at times a leader's voice must be heard. So it's unfortunate that the mayor declined to speak last week after troubling new questions arose about the arrest in March of Lamont Lee, an unarmed black man.

Soon after the arrest along a downtown street, Mr. Lee pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance, loitering and resisting arrest. He was expected to be sentenced to three years probation.

Now that's on hold after a video of Mr. Lee's arrest surfaced that appears to show abusive behavior by Troy police. The video, viewed by two Times Union writers, shows police repeatedly kicking, punching and kneeing Mr. Lee. His new attorney, Michael Feit, is trying to have the conviction withdrawn.

The color of Mr. Lee's skin is pertinent. His case is among several in recent years that raise questions about how Troy police deal with minorities.

In an incident in August, police shot an unarmed black man, Dahmeek McDonald, who fortunately survived. That case is still being investigated.

Then there's the tragic case of Edson Thevenin, the unarmed black motorist shot to death by police in 2016. A report by the state attorney general's office said the department "grossly mishandled" witnesses, "prejudged the outcome" of its investigation into the shooting, and "overlooked or ignored evidence."

Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove is under indictment for perjury and official misconduct after he rushed a grand jury action that exonerated the Troy officer who fired the eight shots at Mr. Thevenin.

The video of Mr. Lee's arrest contains no audio, and a police official contends he did not comply with officers during the arrest. Still, the visual record raises issues that the community deserves to have addressed. It adds weight to the argument for creation of a civilian oversight panel, as many citizens requested following Mr. Thevenin's death and Mr. McDonald's shooting.

Any settlement of this case must not include suppression of the video or preclude a public explanation. It would be a mistake for Troy to hide behind the Section 50-a of the state's civil rights law, which courts broadly interpret as barring release of any records related to an officers' performance or discipline. The city must recognize the value of transparency here, for the sake of community confidence and trust in their police force.

That process starts with Mayor Madden and Troy's new police chief, Brian Owens, assuring the community that there will be a full investigation of this incident and that appropriate action will be taken. Circling the wagons takes no one anywhere.