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A jury cleared a former Omaha police officer this month in a violent and fatal confrontation with a Rosebud Sioux man with mental illness. The incident and resulting trial raises further questions about police interactions with Native Americans and others with mental illness. Omaha’s police chief fired the four officers who repeatedly punched and used a Taser stun gun on Zachery BearHeels, who died from what a medical examiner describes as “excited delirium.” We’ll get an update and explore some of the solutions identified for police interactions with people with mental illness.
Guests:
Kevin Abourezk (Rosebud Sioux) – managing editor of Indianz.com
Dr. Dara Rampersad – first responder and forensic psychologist
LeMoine LaPointe (Sicangu Lakota) – project and process facilitator for the Barbara Schneider Foundation
Break 1 Music: Honor Song (song) Sweetgrass (artist) Follow The Trial (album)
Break 2 Music: Winter Solstice (song) Robert Mirabal (artist) Pueblo Christmas (song)
