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Saturday, July 7, 2012

GBI and Georgia State Police: Nothing new on Port Wentworth Police Shooting of unarmed Deshone Travis

The U.S. Justice Department should investigate this shooting. What vested interest does the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or State police have in finding the truth and justice for the family of  the victim? Can the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or State Police be trusted to expedite this investigation when history has shown  police organizations like the GBI work to exonerate police officers. Their report could be months or even years before it is completed and released. If the local prosecutor makes a decision not to convene a grand jury based on whatever information they are privey with then the officers could be allowed back on the streets. In any officer involved shooting where numererous versions of events are disputed delay in the release of a official report is to the disadvantage of the victim's family.

PORT WENTWORTH, GA On Thursday, Port Wentworth police released the incident report for the case where a burglary suspect was shot and killed last week.
The report has little information, only saying the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating and Georgia State Patrol is handling the accident part of the investigation. Two officers remain on leave, which is normal police procedure for officer involved shootings. Two Pooler detectives were involved but Pooler Police Chief Mark Revenew says they remain on duty since they did not fire their guns. Friends of Dashone Travis, the 20 year old suspect who was killed during the burglary investigation, are upset over the lack of information.
"A page with a half a paragraph talking about what happened on that night. It doesn't even talk about what happened. A young man is deceased because of police using excessive force," said Alicia Blakely.
Port Wentworth police are not commenting and maintain officers lives were put at risk by Travis, who they say tried to run the officers over, which caused them to fire on the vehicle.