Board says reprimand not enough for officer in excessive force case

ORLANDO, Fla. — The board that oversees how Orlando police investigate their own blasted the department over its handling of an excessive force case.

On Wednesday, the Orlando Citizens Police Review Board questioned why the officer was only given a verbal reprimand for a bloody confrontation with a homeless veteran.

The board unanimously rejected the police department’s exoneration of Officer James Wilson for the force he used during a run-in with Terre Johnson, who was sitting on a curb last summer waiting for a shelter to open.

“Just to have an oral reprimand for this. To me, it’s appalling. It’s absolutely appalling,” said Henry Lim. “I believe the officer committed assault and battery. He confronted the individual. Never told him he was under arrest.”

In video of the confrontation, Wilson said to Johnson, “Now that you’re camping on city property, then I can take you to jail for it. How about that?”

Johnson then said, “Do I have a tent? Am I laid out?”

Wilson then appeared to mock Johnson by saying, “A tint? A tint?”

“Not only were Officer Wilson’s statement egregious, I feel they were also racist,” said lim.

Both men were hurt in the incident, but after a jury saw video of it in January, Johnson was found not guilty.

Johnson’s public defenders publicly complained about Wilson on Wednesday.

“I don’t think that we can have officers like Officer Wilson working in the city of Orlando. I think that what he did in this case makes it more dangerous for other officers,” said Chelsea Simmons.

The board was dismayed that Wilson did not have to go to sensitivity training.

“I just found his entire demeanor very troubling,” said board member Pat Howard.

Johnson's lawyer said while Wilson was recording his run-in with Johnson, he was wearing another officer's name tag.

The police department said it would check if that’s considered a violation.

The Orlando Police Department said once Chief John Mina gets the board’s letter detailing the reasons behind its rejection of the Internal Affairs investigation, he’ll carefully review it with staff, consider the board’s advice for the future and take any other action he deems appropriate.

But the board’s position sends a strong message that it believes a dangerous culture still exists within the department.

Cox Media Group