He said he threatened witnesses, fabricated statements and at one point, handcuffed a mother and left her crying baby on the floor-all in an attempt to get a forced confession. I think about that stuff on a daily basis, Palmer said. Palmer said that he thinks about the fact false statements he coerced helped convict men he believed were innocent. He admits that the men were gang members with rap sheets but Palmer says the real evidence pointed to two other men his superiors believed would be harder to convict. You do what you are told or you pay the price, Palmer said. You have to go along or youre in a lifeboat all by yourself. Palmer said he kept the code of silence for years and acknowledges he witnessed many things. You had guys that would walk around with jail photos of people they had beaten as jail trophies, Palmer said. Palmer says he never stopped it and never stood up in court when the guilty verdicts were handed down. He watched the reaction of Lumont Johnsons mother. I will never forget that look on her face, never. Palmer said. Palmer left the police department and men were sent to jail to serve out their 50-year sentences. On appeal, lawyers for the men tracked Palmer down and this time he agreed to testify in their defense. Whos always going to win in court? Palmer asks. The police are because people believe the police. When asked if people should, Palmer responded, Not all the time.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 20:13:15 +0000