Chief: Appropriate force used
Shaw formally endorses the findings of internal probe into protest arrests
STAMFORD — Stamford Police Chief Tim Shaw on Monday said city police officers used no undue force during a clash with protesters in the aftermath of an August demonstration.
Shaw spoke before the Stamford Police Commission, formally endorsing the conclusions reached by the department’s Internal Affairs Division, which investigated the August 8 incident.
The demonstration had been organized by local activist group Justice for Steven Barrier, which formed as demonstrations against police brutality were held across the nation following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The group rallied around 23-year-old Barrier, a Black man who died in Stamford police custody on Oct. 23, 2019 following a foot chase with officers.
The chief on Monday said per the IA investigation no further action or discipline was warranted on his part. Shaw also emphasized that officers used “only the force that was necessary’’ during the confrontation with protesters outside the Target on Broad Street. He did not elaborate on the findings and conclusions in the internal affairs investigation.
Police Commission Chairman
Timothy Abbazia said a document of the investigation itself has not been made public because of the possibility of a lawsuit by protesters involved, several of whom were arrested.
“They’re disputing that arrest, and they have a lawyer. And so, this type of information is typically not disclosed until the case is settled,” Abbazia said in a postmeeting interview.
Abbazia said that he expects the city Office of Legal Affairs to decide whether the internal investigation will be made public on Tuesday.
The Police Commission meeting was aired live via zoom, but was difficult for members of the public to follow. Community members remarked that the audio was off on the call or that the microphone was too far from speakers for them to be heard. On various occasions, the audio cut in and out, and provided an incomplete account of the hearing happening at Police Headquarters.
After Abbazia announced that the commission would break for an executive session to discuss how it would address the internal affairs report, some members of the virtual crowd broke into chants.
“Justice for Steven Barrier,” called an anonymous member of the Zoom gallery. Others said Shaw was furthering a false narrative about the August 8 protest.
The altercations following the protest resulted in claims of injuries to officers and demonstrators alike. Nine officers sought care at Stamford Hospital because of protest-related injuries and one required surgery.
The internal affairs division announced that it had concluded its internal investigation on December 18, the same day it released more than 70 videos from body cameras worn by officers at the event. While the videos span hours of footage, they culminate in the Target confrontation where people were injured.
The Broad Street videos are disjointed and chaotic, but show several physical confrontations between demonstrators and officers. In several instances, officers can be seen shoving protesters or pushing them to the ground. Protesters can sometimes be seen attempting to grab officers while they maneuver through the crowd.
Greenwich attorney Philip Russell represents four of the six protesters who were arrested during the chaos.
“All are peaceful people leading ordinary lives. They came out to protest with the best of intentions,” said Russell prior to the Police Commission meeting. “The PD released approximately 70 hours of video which we have not had sufficient opportunity to review. From our initial perusal, the police have worked diligently since August 8, 2020 to curate, edit and organize the video presentation.”
When the police commission returned from its executive session, Abbazia announced that the commission would release its comments on the internal affairs report in the next month.