FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2021
Indianapolis Urban League Statement on the Actions and Case of IMPD Sergeant Eric Huxley
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) applauds the executive actions and commitment to increased transparency taken by IMPD Chief Randal Taylor in the recently discovered and partially investigated case of Sergeant Eric Huxley and his abuse and stomping on the head of a prone, homeless, African American civilian, Mr. Jermaine Vaughn on September 24th of this year.
We are angered and deeply saddened by the video images from the body-worn camera footage released yesterday and our expressions of sympathy and support for Mr. Vaughn are beyond words.
The deliberate and unprincipled actions of Sergeant Huxley deprived Mr. Vaughn of his civil and constitutional rights, and the apparent silent accommodation of his actions by IMPD Sergeant Christopher Kibbey and Officer Matthew Shores is extremely disturbing to the Indianapolis community. Sergeant Huxley has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of his trial on felony charges. Should he not be convicted, the Indianapolis Urban League urges the IMPD Police Merit Board to support IMPD Chief Randal Taylor’s recommendation that Sergeant Huxley is terminated.
In this instance, the implementation of body-worn cameras and the release of the video footage demonstrate the beginning of necessary changes around transparency but Sergeant Huxley must be held accountable. Sergeant Kibbey and Officer Shores should be disciplined and held accountable for their failures as well. Failure to do so will only lead to more instances of officers failing to quickly intervene when a fellow officer has violated policies and laws in interactions and confrontations with citizens.
The Indianapolis Urban League remains committed to advocating for improved transparency and accountability for police actions in our community. It is imperative that IMPD, the Police Merit Board and Use of Force Review Board continue to address ongoing community concerns regarding the use of force, departmental discipline, and overall departmental policies that have contributed to a rising level of disconnect and mistrust between the officers and employees of the department and the Indianapolis community particularly African Americans and other people of color. Failure to do so will only deepen the divide in our community making it more difficult to implement other changes underway that could lead to better police and community relations.
Tony Mason, President & CEO, Indianapolis Urban League
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Contact: Tony Mason, President & CEO, Indianapolis Urban League | (317) 693-7603 tmason@indplsul.org
About the Indianapolis Urban League:
Founded in 1965, the Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) is a nonprofit, non-partisan, interracial, community-based, human services agency dedicated to assisting African-Americans, other minorities, and disadvantaged individuals to achieve social and economic equality. Annually, the IUL provides direct services and advocacy in the areas of education and youth services, economic and workforce development, health and quality of life, civic engagement and leadership, and civil rights and racial justice empowerment. IUL is one of 90 affiliates of the National Urban League serving 300 communities in 36 states and the District of Columbia. For more information visit indplsul.org