- Kendra James
Kendra James was a 21-year-old
African American Oregon woman shot to death by police onMay 5 2003 . The incident sparked a controversy over the use ofdeadly force in thePortland Police Bureau (Oregon). [ cite web
url = http://www.wweek.com/editorial/2945/4302/
title = Kendra James' REVENGE
author = Nick Budnick
date =September 10 2003
publisher =Willamette Week
accessdate = 2007-10-01 ] cite web
url = http://www.theportlandalliance.org/2005/aug/kendratrial.htm
title = The Kendra James trial: Was justice served?
author = Diane Lane Woodcock
publisher = Portland Alliance
date =August 18 2005
accessdate = 2007-10-01 ]James was stopped by three police officers, including Officer Scott McCollister. Three other people in the car with her were arrested. During a check for outstanding warrants, James—who had a criminal record and a drug problem—attempted to flee the scene. McCollister tried to pull her out of the car, but she started it and began to move. McCollister drew his weapon and fired several shots. After the shooting, the officers handcuffed James and left her bleeding on the street without administering medical attention. James died four hours later.
The death of Kendra James, one of a series of high-profile shootings by Portland police, led to a controversy that raged for several months. Many community groups claimed that McCollister was not justified in using deadly force, and there were numerous calls for his prosecution. McCollister was cleared by a
grand jury , but was disciplined by the bureau for exercising poor judgment. There were also accusations that James had been a victim ofracial profiling , a charge the bureau denied.In 2005, the bureau announced changes in the guidelines for police use of deadly force, including a prohibition against shooting at a moving vehicle, that were intended to prevent a repeat of the Kendra James shooting. In 2005 a civil suit against McCollister seeking $10 million in damages went to trial. On
June 29 ,2005 , the jury ruled in favor of McCollister, ending the civil case.References
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