Elijah McClain’s Amended Autopsy Affirms Violent Arrest Caused His Death
Black America WebSep 24, 2022
An amended autopsy report released Friday by a Denver District Court Chief Judge revealed that Elijah McClain – a Black man killed in police custody in Aurora, Colo. in 2019 – died of ketamine overdose administrated by paramedics while forcibly detained.
The original autopsy report, which was written shortly after McClain’s death, didn't conclude how he died, or whether his death was natural, accidental, or a result of homicide.
The police shouldn’t be rewarded with more federal funding, which Congress plans to give them. Instead, there should be more sweeping overhauls - including passing the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act. Tragedies like this show both the failures of many police procedures and the extent that the current system enables them.
The bills currently working their way through Congress seek to provide meaningful reform for police departments as an institution. It's more than just an increase in funding - this legislation would also help the police de-escalate confrontations with the public, and provide better training, body cameras, and access to mental health assistance. Substantial law enforcement reform can happen by working within the current system.