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Faith leaders: Fire officers involved in Herman Whitfield III’s death

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Black faith leaders called for the officers involved in the death of Herman Whitfield III to be fired during a press conference May 9.

Whitfield died April 25 while in police custody during an apparent mental health crisis.

“His only crime is being a Black man,” Pastor Richard Reynolds said outside of Grace Missionary Baptist Church.

Richard Reynolds, pastor at New Revelation Christian Church, speaks at a press conference May 9, 2022, where faith leaders called for the termination of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers involved in the death of Herman Whitfield III. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick)

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department identified the officers involved as Matthew Virt, Steven Sanchez, Dominique Clark, Adam Ahmad, Jordan Bull and recruit trainee Nicholas Mathew. All have been placed on administrative leave.

IMPD said officers had body cameras that were active, but the department hasn’t released the footage.

In a tweeted statement the evening of April 25, IMPD said it is still investigating Whitfield’s death.

“We will release additional information, including body-worn camera footage, once it has gone through all the necessary steps to ensure it can be released to community stakeholders and the public,” the tweet said. “Until then, IMPD will continue to follow the investigative process while remaining committed to a precedent of transparency set by prior critical incidents.”

The faith leaders also continued to call for a clinician-led crisis response team. At a vigil April 27, organizers with Faith in Indiana, the group that has led that push, said it got a commitment from the mayor’s office to fund a pilot program, though the mayor’s office said it still working on the source and size of funding.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853 or email at tylerf@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.

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