Breonna Taylor

Breonna Taylor is just one on a long list of unarmed black folks who have been shot and killed by police. Her case has been pending for six months. Daniel Cameron is the attorney general who has been leading the investigation. To give some context Daniel Cameron is a black republican Trump supporter. 

Breonna Taylor was in her home asleep when police executed a no knock warrant and startled her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. As far as we know right now, mr. Walker fired a shot because he thought someone was breaking into the house.  He said police never identified themselves. 

The officers fired More than 20 rounds hitting Breonna at least eight times. 

There are lots of questions around how the warrant was attained, if the process was ethical, and probably more importantly why were the police executing a warrant for a person who was already in custody.  since significant media tension, one of the officers has been terminated.

Today a report came out that the city of Louisville entered a settlement agreement with Breonna Taylor‘s family for the largest amount in the cities history.  To date the largest amount of a settlement is $8 million, which suggests this settlement  is even more. 

Let me be clear, Breonna Taylor‘s family deserves whatever amount they agreed to. However, this is not justice. Police are paid by taxpayers to do a job. When  police violate the law and the rights of citizens, they must be held accountable. These settlements are taxpayers paying for The misdeeds of police officers.  When police misconduct happens, settlements should come from police pensions and/or the personal finances of the police officer(s) involved. If police are allowed to violate the rights of citizens and go on a paid leave of absence and have no financial responsibility there is no incentive for police officers to correct bad behavior.

Qualified immunity is a legal principle that grants government officials performing discretionary functions immunity from civil suits. This needs to be abolished. Police should be held to a higher standard than average citizens. They are tasked with knowing the law, protecting, serving and being exemplary as it relates to how people should behave themselves. In light of that, if they do not uphold this standard, why then should they not pay the same type penalty that any other citizen would pay. 

Police do a job that is inherently dangerous and has the potential to be deadly. However,  those who opt into the job know the risks. Breonna Taylor and countless other Black people lost their lives at the hands of police. This is unacceptable, infuriating and criminal. America owes all of these victims justice and that cannot be found solely with a check.