NAACP calls on Department of Justice to investigate Jim Rogers' death in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has requested the United States Department of Justice to investigate the death of Jim Rogers in Pittsburgh.
In a news release on Tuesday, the NAACP Pittsburgh branch said it requested the NAACP office to seek a DOJ investigation into the case. The NAACP sent a letter to Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke urging an investigation into the Pittsburgh-based case. The letter, sent on Tuesday, was signed by NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.
"They agreed and concurred, especially because the lack of charges that were filed from the district attorney's office, combined now with Officer Keith Edmonds getting his job back with back pay. They felt that it was necessary for a request to be made to the Department of Justice to investigate all parties in relation to this particular case," said Daylon Davis, president of the NAACP Pittsburgh branch. "Because we're all at an all-new low where even if an officer admits wrongdoing and there's still no type of disciplinary punishment, even for the victim, for the family. We're living in the wild, wild west now."
Rogers died in October 2021 after he was tased by Pittsburgh police officers. Police tased him after he was accused of stealing a bike.
Rogers told officers that he couldn't breathe and needed to go to a hospital, but police officers delayed leaving until EMS arrived to treat some of their injuries. Police officers took Rogers to UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he arrived unconscious and was later pronounced dead, even though West Penn Hospital was two blocks away from the scene in Bloomfield.
The city settled with Rogers' family for $8 million. Five officers were fired after Rogers' death. Three have since returned to the force. One other faces arbitration and the fifth officer retired. Officer Edmonds was reinstated last Friday.
"This incident is deeply troubling," the NAACP's letter to Clarke said on Tuesday.
"Without federal intervention, the police officers will not be held accountable for their actions," the letter went on to say. "The NAACP hopes and trusts that the Department of Justice will conduct a thorough investigation immediately. We seek justice and accountability."
Davis said if there's no accountability now, there will be no accountability later. He said the best outcome would be the dismissal of the officers.