transparency Archives - The American Retiree

Bodycam Footage Puts Police Actions Under Microscope

HENDERSON, NV – A police sergeant in Henderson is facing scrutiny after body camera footage revealed inconsistencies with his account of an incident involving a woman. The footage, shared anonymously, raises questions about the appropriateness of the officer’s use of force. The confrontation unfolded near Boulder Highway and Basic Road after a report of a disturbance. Sergeant Scott O’Ward described the woman as agitated and possibly intoxicated, claiming she was about to spit at him. …

Mystery Deepens Over Unexplained Deaths in Kashmiri Village, Residents Demand Transparency Amid Investigation

Rajouri, India — A troubling mystery looms over the village of Badhal in Rajouri district, situated in the contested region of Jammu and Kashmir, where the unexplained deaths of 17 people across three families have unsettled locals and sparked questions about the circumstances leading to their demise. The deceased, spanning between December 7 and January 19, have left a community grappling with anxiety and suspicion, awaiting answers that have yet to come. In response to …

Coroner Blasts Lack of Transparency at UK Prison After Three Inmates Die Within 19 Days

Nottinghamshire, UK — A coroner’s investigation into three self-inflicted prisoner deaths within 19 days at HMP Lowdham Grange, a category B men’s prison, has prompted sharp criticism of prison administration and calls for systemic reform. The inquiry spotlighted the deaths which occurred in rapid succession in March 2023, casting a harsh light on institutional neglect and the dire need for improved mental health support within the UK prison system. Coroner Laurinda Bower, in her Prevention …

Illinois Struggles with Transparency in Police-Involved Deaths Despite Legal Mandates

Joliet, Ill. — In Illinois, a significant disparity exists in the public release of police-involved fatalities and custody-related deaths, with inconsistencies marking the state’s approach to transparency. This variability intensifies the debate on accountability in cases where law enforcement officers are involved in resident deaths but are not charged, highlighting a lack of clarity and consistency that can leave communities in the dark. The issue stems from a provision in the state law enacted in …

Inmate Deaths Spark Calls for Transparency in Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office

Fort Worth, Texas – The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office is facing scrutiny over a series of inmate deaths in recent years, sparking concerns about transparency and accountability within the department. Last month, the deaths of two inmates within days of each other have reignited calls for answers and reforms within the Sheriff’s Office. Roderick Johnson, 42, died from drug poisoning on April 18, while Anthony Johnson, 31, passed away on April 21 after an altercation …

Lack of Transparency: Examining Custodial Deaths in Los Angeles County Jails Through the Lens of ‘Death in Custody’

Los Angeles, California had a notably deadly year in 2023, with 45 people dying in custody. The county’s jails reported at least nine drug-related deaths, three suicides, three homicides, one hypothermia-related death, and several cases with undetermined causes. However, Los Angeles stands out from other municipalities in that it reports jail deaths, unlike many other areas where such information is not readily available to the public. In their 2023 book, “Death in Custody: How America …

Dollar General Massacre Manifesto Released by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Name of Transparency

Jacksonville, Florida – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has released a hate-filled manifesto written by the individual responsible for the racially motivated shooting that resulted in the deaths of three Black individuals at a Dollar General store in the Grand Park neighborhood last summer. The 27-page manifesto, written by a white man from Clay County, details his malicious intentions and hateful ideology before he ultimately took his own life at the scene of the shooting. Sheriff …