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THE LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRANSPARENCY Sheriff Wayne Ivey's Blinding Of Brevard County The In-Custody Death Of U.S. Combat Veteran, Gregory Edwards |
July 9, 2020 |
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WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT Currently, In Brevard County, It's As Clear As Mud Transparency; it has long been elusive within U.S. law enforcement, especially regarding race relations, AND particularly, south of the Mason-Dixon line. The Blinding Of Sgt. Issac Woodard It has been alleged that the start of the modern (1948-present) civil rights movement was President Truman's 1948 executive order which desegregated the U.S. military. Many would further argue, that the seed for Truman's order was planted in early 1946, when a South Carolina chief of police (Chief Lynwood Shull) severely beat Sgt. Issac Woodard, a uniformed black solider, as he was returning home from serving his country in World War II. Woodard's beating left him permanently blinded.  Sgt. Issac Woodard Woodard's offense, was to request that a Greyhound bus driver allow him additional time to walk to and from the distant "color" restroom facilities. We imagine that the people of 1940s South Carolina would argue, given the arrest and criminal prosecution of Police Chief Shull, that the Sgt. Woodard case received justice and transparency. However, even with Shull admitting that he beat Woodard into blindness, Shull was acquitted by an all white jury. Sadly, such were, and maybe still are, the standards for justice and transparency within South Carolina. Even today, Chief Shull has his admirers (see lower right screenshot of Shull's FindAGrave.Com memorial). And some would still argue, that systemic racism doesn't exist within American law enforcement. Not Much Has Changed Sheriff Wayne Ivey's Justice & Transparency Standards Are They Designed To "Make America Great Again"? 
When individuals make racist statements, take racist positions...believe them for what they are. President Trump has voiced his opinion / advice to U.S. law enforcement, that the police should not "be nice" to suspects that are taken into custody. Following Trump's lead - Brevard County (FL) Sheriff Wayne Ivey has voiced his opinion, within the 2019 arrest of domestic violence suspect, Timothy James Paul, that if people are tough enough to commit the crime, that they have been arrested for - they should be tough enough to take their "punishment" from the arresting agency (see lower right picture of Mr. Paul). THE PUNISHING OF CRIMINAL SUSPECT TIMOTHY JAMES PAUL Sheriff Ivey must have forgotten that in this country (at least prior to November 2016) - judges and juries have the sole authority to decide the guilt (conviction) and the punishment (sentencing) of criminal defendants. |
OUR VIDEO TRIBUTE TO BOTH WOODARD & EDWARDS  Gregory Lloyd Edwards  World War II Veteran Sgt. Issac Woodard   Chief Shull's FindAGrave.Com Entry  Timothy James Paul's "BCSO's Punishment" |
The In-Custody Death Of
Combat Medic Greg Edwards
In December 2018, did U.S. combat medic, Gregory Edwards opt not to "take his punishment" from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO)? Did this failure to submit to pre-conviction punishment lead to Edwards being beaten to death by BCSO deputies?
Fortunately, the jail's surveillance video should be able to answer both of the above questions. Unfortunately, Sheriff Ivey refuses to publicly release the jail surveillance video (more on this later - see below).
June 26, 2020
FDLE Review / Other Fl. Jails Routinely Release Surveillance Videos
May 19, 2020
The Untimely Deaths Of Two Black Males
September 25, 2019
A Recipe For Homicide
August 12, 2019
Murdered By The BCSO
Video evidence from the WMPD officers clearly indicate that they (WMPD) safely delivered Mr. Edwards to the Brevard County jail, and into the custody of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).
June 11, 2020
WMPD Receive Threats Against Officer
This publication is not questioning the actions of the WMPD. In fact, as is explained within our earlier articles (see above web links), we found the WMPD to be both transparent, and informative regarding their handling of Mr. Edwards.
However, this publication does question the motives and intentions of the BCSO, and by proxy, the Office of the State Attorney, in their handling of the Edwards matter.
Jail Surveillance Video
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey refuses to release the jail surveillance video regarding a documented physical confrontation between several BCSO jail deputies and Mr. Edwards.
RELATED MEDIA ARTICLE
June 12, 2020
Defense Seeks Release Of Jail Video Involving Gregory Edwards And Corrections Deputies
Sheriff Ivey is claiming a statutory exemption (F.S. 281.301 - see upper right of article), stating that releasing the video could jeopardize the security of the jail, and the safety of it's staff.
However, given the fact that the BCSO (Sheriff Ivey) opted to "self-investigate" Edwards' in-custody death, instead of allowing an independent investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), this publication must question the validity of the BCSO's investigative findings (see our above like articles for additional details).
In our OPINION, BCSO's own investigative report, documents information that may indicate that excessive force was applied against Mr. Edwards (knee spikes, numerous taser deployments, the heavy usuage of chemical agents, without apparent timely & proper medical treatment being given).
Further, the BCSO has recently gone on the record, that they continue to use, the controversial vascular neck restraint, that came to national attention during the recent in-custody death of George Floyd (Minneapolis Police).
RELATED MEDIA ARTICLE
WFTV
June 1, 2020
One Local Law Enforcement Agency (BCSO) Trains Deputies To Use ‘Vascular Neck Restraints
Given, that at a press conference, Sheriff Ivey made the racially over-toned statement, that Edwards' fought the deputies like a "caged animal", this publication is left to wonder, did these deputies revert to their training, and apply the vascular neck restraint on Edwards?
Only by publicly viewing the surveillance video, can these concerns be properly addressed.
Sheriff Ivey recently requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) review the BCSO's self-investigation of itself, as it relates to Mr. Edwards' untimely and suspicious in-custody death.
Ivey's desire to have FDLE review the investigative process, is undoubtly driven by local leaders' suggestions that Ivey publicly release the surveillance video.
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Sadly, the on-going FDLE "review" - is just that, a "review", and not an independent FDLE investigation. FDLE will be limited in their abilities to file criminal charges against members of the BCSO. However, even with this limited authority, FDLE will be reviewing the surveillance video. Hopefully, FDLE will also "suggest" to Sheriff Ivey, that justice would be best served by publicly releasing the surveillance video.
The good news, is that high profiled civil rights attorney Ben Crump now represents the Edwards' widow and family. ---> In our "OPINION" - Ivey should take a piece of his own advice - he should release the surveillance video - and accept any ramifications, or "punishment", that is coming his way, soooo.... ......stand by to stand by .........there is surely more to come of this...... though the heavens fall." Sheriff Ivey can be contacted via his public information officer tod.goodyear@bcso.us |
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