My place, "Officer Martinez," is making sure that what you did to me this morning is the last act of racial violence you will ever commit as a police officer. Martinez finally understood he hadn't just assaulted a random woman. He had assaulted justice itself, and justice was about to hit back. "Officer Martinez," Judge Williams began, opening a thick manila folder, "let's examine your distinguished career in law enforcement, shall we? "Martinez's attorney leaned over to whisper urgently in his client's ear, but Martinez seemed paralyzed, unable to respond to anything happening around him. According to records from internal affairs, you've been the subject of 47 formal complaints during your 15-year career. 47 complaints, Officer Martinez. That averages to more than three complaints per year.
She pulled out a document and held it up. Let's start with complaint number one filed in 2009. Mrs. Rosa Delgado, a 63-year-old grandmother, alleged that you called her a woman during a routine traffic stop and slammed her face into her car hood when she asked for your badge number.
The packed courtroom stirred uneasily. Your department's investigation concluded that Mrs. Delgado's allegations were unsubstantiated. Interesting considering we now have video evidence of you using remarkably similar language and tactics.
Judge Williams flipped to another page. Complaint number 12, 2012. Jamal Washington, a 17-year-old honor student, alleged that you planted drugs in his backpack after he refused to provide information about his older brother. Once again, your department found the complaint unsubstantiated.
Martinez's breathing was becoming more labored with each revelation. Complaint number 23, 2016. Dr. Michael Johnson.
Yes, Dr. Johnson, a prominent cardiologist, alleged that you arrested him outside his own home because you didn't believe a black man could live in that neighborhood. Dr. Johnson spent six hours in jail before his attorney could secure his release.
She looked directly at Martinez. What was the department's finding on that complaint, Officer Martinez? I I don't. Martinez's voice was barely audible. unsubstantiated," Judge Williams answered for him. "Are you beginning to see a pattern here? " Chief Judge Margaret Carter had quietly entered the courtroom and was now sitting in the front row, her expression grim as she took notes. "But here's what's really interesting, Officer Martinez. I've cross-referenced your complaint record with your arrest statistics, and some fascinating patterns emerge. "Judge Williams pulled out a large chart and placed it on an easel where everyone could see it. Over your 15-year career, you've made 1,251 arrests. Of those arrests, 1,089, that's 87% involved people of color. In contrast, the demographics of your patrol area are 42% white, 31% Hispanic, and 27% black.
She pointed to different sections of the chart with a laser pointer. Even more interesting, your use of force reports show that you used physical force in 63% of your arrests involving people of color compared to only 12% of your arrests involving white suspects. Martinez's attorney was frantically writing, probably preparing an insanity defense. And here's perhaps the most damning statistic of all, Judge Williams continued.