Officers Tied to Beatings in Ala. Defended

The city’s police chief said Thursday that “idiotic judgment,” not racism, was behind the actions of eight white officers accused of planting evidence and beating blacks.

Federal and state authorities are reviewing at least three incidents involving the officers, the most recent of which occurred Jan. 28, when one officer allegedly beat a handcuffed black teenager, challenged him to a fistfight, then sprayed him with Mace.

The eight officers resigned after an internal investigation began last week. A police review board recommended three other officers be dismissed for witnessing but not reporting similar incidents.

Chief John Wilson said some of the officers would likely face criminal charges, but he denied any racism on their part.

“I think what we’re dealing with is an abundance of idiotic judgment and outright criminal activity,” said Wilson, who is white.

“Some were leaders of the misconduct. Some knew it happened but didn’t report it, which makes them just as much involved,” he said. “I’m thoroughly convinced some will go to jail before this is over.”

The officers, all of whom worked on the overnight shift, face other allegations of planting evidence, jailing a person on false charges, and throwing rocks and bottles at a suspected crack house. City officials said all the victims were black.