Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jan 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
3538.html
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97

CHIEF FACES UNHAPPY RESIDENTS

A week after shooting, outcry persists a week after officer shot man

One week after one of his officers fatally shot a black man in the back,
Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert White met a second time with
discontented residents in western Louisville to try to bridge the cultural
gap he says divides the community and police.

"I realize that you all are sick and tired of being sick and tired, because
I'm sick and tired of hearing you tell me that you're sick and tired," White
told more than 60 people at a forum yesterday morning at Quinn Chapel AME
church.

A group of African-American ministers criticized Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson
for not attending the forum and accused him of ignoring western Louisville.
But Abramson said he wanted White to be at the forefront of the issue,
because "he's the best person able at this point to address questions
regarding the investigation."

The shooting spurred a protest Thursday in front the police headquarters at
Seventh and Jefferson streets that resulted in four arrests. Another protest
will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at the same site, and civil rights activist
Louis Coleman said parents he enlisted would help keep it orderly.

The outcry follows the Jan. 3 shooting of 19-year-old Michael Newby. White
has said that a shot was fired when Officer McKenzie Mattingly and Newby
struggled over Mattingly's service handgun during an attempted undercover
drug buy. When Newby ran, Mattingly fired his weapon four times, striking
Newby three times in the back.

Police said a .45-caliber gun was found in Newby's waistband.
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