Father Calls for Calm After Son Dies in Police Beating

The father of a man who was fatally beaten by police officers said Saturday that he has urged friends to remain calm because “what’s done is done.”

“Whatever they do ain’t going to bring him back,” Jesse Green Jr. said. “I’ve told all his friends not to do anything about it. Just let it be.

“Let the lawyers take care. What’s done is done. They made a mistake, let them pay for it.”

Malice Wayne Green, 35, of Detroit, was beaten to death Thursday night by two police officers with a flashlight as five other officers watched or took part. Green died of head injuries in a hospital emergency room.

His father’s plea for continued peace was echoed Saturday by the City Wide Police Community Relations Council.

“While this incident is a blemish on our relationship, it does not reflect the attitudes or actions of the vast majority of our police who are hard-working, sensitive officers,” the group said.

Police Chief Stanley Knox said Friday that he had suspended the officers without pay. An internal investigation is under way, but Knox would not elaborate on what charges would be sought.

Knox said the beating occurred after Green’s car was stopped by two plainclothes officers. The officers’ call for backup was answered by at least four more officers and a sergeant, Knox said.

It was not clear when the beating started or how many officers were physically involved. Knox said initial reports showed that Green was beaten while still inside his car and again outside, even after he was handcuffed and paramedics arrived.

Knox said he could not say whether race was a factor in the beating. Green was black. The six officers are white, and the sergeant is black, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The Free Press, which identified the plainclothes officers Saturday, quoted one, Larry Nevers, as saying: “I must’ve done something wrong, a guy died. If I can ever sleep again, I’m going to wake up and say this is a dream, it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen.”

But he added: “Nobody knows what it’s like out there.”

Bob Berg, spokesman for Mayor Coleman A. Young, said the mayor is frustrated because he has fought against police brutality since taking office in 1973.

The victim’s father said he was coming to terms with the death.

“I’ve been through this sort of thing before,” Green said.

Green’s daughter and the victim’s sister, Bernetta, was killed 10 years ago by her boyfriend, who then shot and killed himself.