Bosses for Metropolitan Police officers have today reiterated that they are standing behind a “brave” weapons comrade who was killed in the shooting of a rapper in South London.
On September 5, armed police shot Chris Kaba, 24, during a pursuit that concluded in Streatham Hill.
Two police cars surrounded the expectant father’s Audi on Kirkstall Gardens, a constrained residential area, and one police bullet was fired.
However, a subsequent inquiry revealed Mr. Kaba had not been carrying a weapon when he was murdered by police. This led to the officer responsible for the killing being suspended.
The nameless weapons policeman has now received the backing of The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents more than 30,000 officers at all levels.
The group said on Twitter that becoming a weapons officer in London is among the world’s most difficult occupations. Officers, who are volunteers, are deserving of our support since they are aware of the accountability and obligation involved. After any sad event, it is inappropriate for individuals in positions of authority to make ignorant comments.
The Metropolitan Police Federation also said that it was supporting the family of a courageous weapons officer who was recently engaged in an incident in South London. All of our ideas are impacted.
The announcement comes amid worries that armed cops would surrender their weapons and go on strike after a comrade was fired for the killing of Mr. Kaba.
They are reportedly “furious” that the cop who shot Mr. Kaba in south London was suspended by the IOPC.
Initially given limited responsibilities, the officer has subsequently been suspended as a result of the IOPC’s murder probe.
After the suspension, Assistant Commissioner Amanda Pearson made the following statement: “Firearms officers endeavour to safeguard the public and serve London every day, which is a challenging and sometimes hazardous job.
They are aware that they will come under close observation on the few occasions when they fire their weapons. We are aware of the substantial effect on the officer and his or her coworkers.
“We continue to fully cooperate with the IOPC and the decision to suspend the officer does not decide the result of the IOPC inquiry,” the statement reads.
According to one source, the suspension of the officer has caused “real anger” among the ranks. Officers who handle firearms are not paid more for their work.
They are all volunteers, and they are starting to wonder what good it will do if their employers don’t support them.
Last Monday, protesters gathered and marched to Scotland Yard demanding justice for Chris Kaba.
“Why now?” is a valid question given that there is no policy for an officer to be suspended after a deadly shooting.
The insider also said that the suspension of the offender had been decided in order to “place public wrath” and questioned what message it sends to other armed cops who risk their lives on the job every day.
How many of the 3,200 armed officers in the Met Police will withdraw is unknown.
However, according to insiders, the atmosphere is “ugly and increasing.” According to The Sun, some of the officer’s supporters feel that he is being sacrificed politically.
The Telegraph reports that the armed cops are prepared to inform their superiors that they would resign from their positions when the Queen’s funeral is completed and that they will no longer carry weapons while on patrol.
The IOPC said that police had chased the vehicle because Mr. Kaba’s vehicle had been detected by automatic number plate recognition and they suspected it was connected to a prior shooting incident.
Later, the police department said that the automobile was not Mr. Kaba’s and that no weapons had been discovered inside.
MPs, the officer’s family, and advocates for Mr. Kaba have already demanded his suspension.
After Sir Mark Rowley, a new police commissioner, took office, the suspension was announced shortly after.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said that he “totally” supports the suspension, calling it a “very significant move.”
It happens after Chris Kaba’s family wanted to watch footage of his last moments and claimed they were not informed of his death for 11 hours.
On the Today programme of BBC Radio 4, his cousin Jefferson Bosela stated: “The family found out 11 hours [after he died], so his mom would have gotten up and gone to work without knowing that her son was no longer alive.”
The family wants to examine bodycam and aerial video of the event, according to Mr. Bosela, and wants to know how long the IOPC inquiry will take.
We want the family to see the video so they can clearly comprehend what occurred, he added.
Mr. Kaba’s cousin Jefferson Bosela said that the family is interested in seeing bodycam and aerial video of the event and is curious as to how long the IOPC probe would take to conclude.
Mr. Bosela said that while the family had appreciated the IOPC’s decision to suspend the officer yesterday, they felt that they had moved too slowly.
“I believe he should have been suspended from there the second an inquiry was initiated,” Mr. Bosela said.
“You know, it’s just that the IOPC is going a little too slowly,” she said. It took three to four days to have the criminal inquiry started, then another two days to get the suspension of the officer.
Therefore, it appears that they are not acting with urgency to resolve this tragic situation.
The IOPC is known for conducting lengthy investigations, so Mr. Bosela continued, “We want a timeline of how long the investigation will take”. Quick, efficient, and thorough are the three things we want from it.
We won’t have to wait a long time for this. Justice must be served as quickly as possible.
Following the incident on Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside New Scotland Yard.
Harriet Harman and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, two campaigners and MPs, had earlier demanded the officer’s suspension, calling it “incomprehensible” that the officer had not received punishment after the incident.
The family, according to Mr. Bosela, wanted to know if the police knew he was in the car or were just pursuing it.
They haven’t provided us with a conclusive response, said Mr. Bosela.
He said, in an interview with the BBC, “I’ve put it out there he wasn’t faultless… nonetheless, unless there is an immediate or clear danger to the public, which at that time, from what I’m hearing, he was not, nobody deserves to be murdered by the police.
The suspension was announced to the family when they were attending a memorial for Mr. Kaba on Monday night at Kirkstall Gardens.
We were happy to hear the news, but it came a little bit too late, according to Mr. Bosela. You must suspend the officer as soon as a criminal probe is opened. In any other position, you would be fired right away.
“I don’t understand why police officers still have the privilege of working when they are the subject of a criminal investigation.”
Helen Nkama, Mr. Kaba’s mother, attended the memorial service on Monday night for the first time.
“Chris’s parents are experiencing an unbelievable loss,” Mr. Bosela added. It’s really tough and challenging because of the way he died. Despite their might, they are having difficulty.
“Chris, what were you saying in the dying moments of your life?” his mother asked during the vigil. I’d love to talk to you for just a minute, so please do. It was painful to see.
I haven’t been eating, myself. I’ve shrunk considerably. While I can, I grieve, my current priority is pursuing justice.
The trust was never there, he said, and the police’s actions have only served to confirm that. The connection has already suffered harm and been severed. It has been confirmed that the trust is no longer there.
For the family’s fundraising efforts, Mr. Bosela created a GoFundMe page and the Instagram account @JusticeForChrisKaba.
Of its $50,000 target, the GoFundMe has already collected £20,000.
Following the officer’s suspension, Met assistant commissioner Amanda Pearson issued the following statement: “Following the death of Chris Kaba, the firearms officer involved has been suspended from duty.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s announcement of a murder investigation and thorough consideration of a variety of considerations, including the major effect on public trust, led to the decision being made.
“Mr. Kaba’s family and friends continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.” We appreciate individuals who are collaborating closely with our neighbourhood cops and recognise how worried communities, especially black neighbourhoods, are.