A Metropolitan police officer who held a Taser to an innocent black teenager's neck after he was forced to kneel in the street has been found guilty of gross misconduct but allowed to keep his job.
Jamar Powell told the Guardian that the September 2020 incident left him traumatised, fearing he would die, and that he would never be able to trust the police again after being stopped and searched more than 30 times with nothing found.
The disciplinary committee concluded Friday that it did not believe Officer Connor Jones' claims that he did not press a stun gun against the neck of Powell, who was 16 at the time.
The incident occurred during a routine stop and go signal in Greenwich, southeast London, when police were searching for a man carrying a samurai sword and wearing a “black hooded tracksuit”.
Powell was not wearing any black clothing or a hoodie, although some of his friends were. Police officers with tasers as well as armed police with guns surrounded him. Police claim the boy walked away, which only increased the police's fears.
He was walking with one white friend and three black friends around 11 p.m., all of whom were released after being searched.
A friend filmed the incident on his mobile phone camera, but this proved to be crucial evidence as Jones did not turn on his body-worn video camera and the Metropolitan police were unable to provide footage from his colleague's camera.
The Metropolitan police initially investigated the incident and denied any wrongdoing by officers, with the Independent Office for Police Conduct arguing that officers should not be held accountable for serious misconduct after the watchdog carried out its own investigation.
On Friday, a disciplinary committee cleared Jones of any discriminatory conduct but gave him a final written warning, valid for three years.
Powell, 20, who now works for a charity, told the Guardian that the officer should have been fired and said his experience showed the Metropolitan police had not changed.
“It's still with me and it will stay with me forever,” Powell, now 20, said of the incident. “That day was traumatic. I will never look at police the same way because I treated them with disrespect, even though I am a law-abiding citizen.”
Powell said the board's punishment was merely a “light punishment,” adding: “As a police officer, when you lose control with a child, you should not have the opportunity to do it again and cause trauma.”
He said he still believes racism explains his treatment and that firing would send a message to other officers.
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IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “There was no need to apply a Taser to Mr Jamal's neck in order to handcuff him as he was already kneeling on the pavement with his hands clearly visible and above his head.”
“It would have undoubtedly been a frightening experience for Jammer, as the officers were armed with firearms and tasers, and Officer Jones' demeanor was oppressive and bullying.”
“Although he denied pressing a Taser against Jamal's neck, after hearing the evidence, the Commission found that he did as alleged and that the use of force was not justified, proportionate or necessary.”
Last August, the Guardian reported that the Metropolitan police had paid damages to Ms Powell and apologised.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawley, commander of south east London police, said: “We accept that this incident was distressing for the young boy and recognise the ongoing impact it has had on him and his family. We have previously apologised for the trauma caused by this incident and we apologise again today.”
“Any use of force or stop is subject to scrutiny, and in this case the Board found that Officer Jones' actions were disproportionate and unnecessary.”
The Metropolitan police will soon launch a race action plan to tackle a lack of trust among ethnic minority communities.
