ACLU Comment on Grand Jury Decision Not to Charge McKinney Officer

HOUSTON — Yesterday a Collin County grand jury determined there was not enough evidence to warrant criminal charges against Eric Casebolt, the officer fired by the McKinney police department for using excessive force at a community pool party.

The following may be attributed to Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas:

“The grand jury’s decision not to charge Eric Casebolt sends the message that police officers won’t have to face real consequences when they endanger the lives of those they’re sworn to protect, but it does not absolve the McKinney police department of its responsibility to train its officers in de-escalation, racial profiling and use of force. The fact that McKinney chief Conley has organized a public forum next Monday to improve relations between his department and the communities it polices is an excellent first step, and we encourage him to enhance and expand such outreach efforts in the future. The McKinney police department has a real opportunity here to demonstrate what community policing in Texas is supposed to look like.”