LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Mayor Frank Scott Jr. has gone from making history to hard questions about the city's police force in just a few short weeks in his administration. He partially explained why the second officer-involved shooting since the start of the year drew him to get out front in this case.
“This particular one we wanted to make certain due to the community constraints that we were very transparent as we moved forward,” Mayor Scott said after a forum honoring black mayors at the Clinton Presidential Center.
The Friday shooting led to a Sunday news conference where the city’s first African American elected to lead the city pledged fairness and transparency.
“We're going to strive to have an independent citizen review board,” Mayor Scott said in a remark interrupted by applause. “We're going to strive to have a police accountability task force.”
Officer Charles Starks is on administrative leave after the shooting at the intersection of 12th Street and Rodney Parham. Incident reports say Starks shot and killed Bradley Blackshire after a traffic stop because Blackshire's car had been reported stolen. As he stood in front of it, the car allegedly moved forward and Starks opened fire. Blackshire died at the scene.
“The value of life no matter how the loss of life happened touches a family,” Mayor Scott said Monday.
Blackshire was a convicted felon with a trial for dealing drugs and gun possession coming up this year. He had been charged with fleeing arrests twice since 2007.
Blackshire's family is talking to lawyers about suing the city.
Videos of the incident exist, and the mayor hinted we may get to see them soon.
“Shortly after we continue to complete our investigation, we'll make it a first in Little Rock that we'll have a critical incident video that we'll share,” he said, while refusing to comment on specifics in this case.
THV11 has requested those videos and other documents and LRPD says they are working to fulfill the request.