ACLU of Delaware Responds to Footage of Indicted Dover Police Officer’s Encounter with Lateef Dickerson
Video Shows Brutal Contact, Points to Need for Reform
The ACLU of Delaware learned today that the Dover Police Department has released footage of a brutal encounter between its client, Lateef Dickerson, and a Dover police officer. The video, captured by a dashboard camera on August 24, 2013, shows Officer Thomas Webster of the Dover Police Department kicking Lateef Dickerson, a Dover resident, breaking his jaw and causing other injuries. On September 29, 2014, the ACLU of Delaware and attorney Daniel C. Herr of The Norman Law Firm filed a lawsuit in federal court on Mr. Dickerson’s behalf, seeking damages and changes to policies and practices used by the Dover Police Department.
We believe that the video demonstrates the need for large-scale reform of the Dover Police Department, specifically improvements to their use of force and internal affairs practices, and supervision of their officers,” said Kathleen MacRae, Executive Director of the ACLU of Delaware. “The people of Dover have a right to know about this incident and deserve a dialogue with law enforcement about how they can create a safe and equitable Dover community for all.”
In every ACLU lawsuit there are two primary objectives: fulfilling our responsibility to our client and using the lawsuit to bring about significant and long-term public policy change so that the wrongs identified in the suit will not be repeated,” added MacRae. “We believe that police officers should only use force as a last resort and must be held responsible when they use more force than is absolutely necessary. Policing practices that respect and protect the constitutional and human rights of all Delawareans are critical to achieve public confidence in police departments.”
