Family who was racially targeted by officer surprised that he is now allowed to work for immigration police
The Dordrecht family that was racially treated during an arrest by a police officer in 2020 has reacted with surprise to the news that the same officer is now becoming a supervisor with the immigration police. This is what lawyer Justin Kötter let us know.
"My clients took note of yesterday's news with astonishment," attorney Kötter says. On December 5, 2020, family was arrested in a heavy-handed manner. "My clients indicate that they do think this fits within the actions of police and justice, as they have seen in recent years," says the lawyer. "In which the necessary is denied, contradicted, while the facts are established."
Other than litigation
The family became laterally involved that evening in an arrest of an intoxicated acquaintance, who had clashed with police in front of an apartment in their neighborhood. The situation escalated into a scuffle between the family and the police. Instead of the acquaintance, the family was taken away in handcuffs.
A day after the incident, the police themselves spoke of 'an inexcusable outburst of violence' which 'went beyond all limits.' However, footage from the apartment's camera showed that the situation was very different from what the officers had recorded in their report.
'Repulsive' racism
The father of the family was called the n-word, "a repugnant discriminatory utterance," the judge later called it. The court also ruled that disproportionate force had been used and that the prosecution was "inadmissible.
The officer himself was convicted by the police judge for the discriminatory statement and was fined 250 euros. He is also being prosecuted for forgery because the arrest report was incorrect.
'Second chance'
So now he makes the switch as a supervisor with the Aliens Police. A position he applied for himself, says a spokesman for the Rotterdam- Rijnmond unit. He was selected by a committee and they talked about his past, they say.
"In this procedure, he has reflected on this past. He has six months to show whether he is capable of leading in a good way," said the spokesperson. "We are giving the colleague a second chance which, in addition to setting the standard and taking appropriate action, is also part of being a learning organization."
'Distance taken'
A police spokesman let it be known that "the insulting statement of a discriminatory nature" made by the police officer should never have happened. "We have always emphatically distanced ourselves from this." Disciplinary action has been taken on the matter. "He has been given a disciplinary written warning"
Unit chief of Rotterdam Rijnmond Fred Westerbeke apologized following a broadcast by EenVandaag: "To the person who got the unacceptable swear word thrown at his head and anyone who was hurt by this, I apologize myself and on behalf of my unit."
'Still no excuses'
But to this day, those apologies have never been made in person to his clients, says attorney Kötter. "We understand that people get a second chance, but no apology has been made to my clients. Indeed, litigation continues." The case against the family's father and son is still being pursued, Kötter said.
The Rotterdam Rijnmond police say they have made an offer of conversation, despite the legal proceedings underway. 'To have a conciliatory conversation to make amends on both sides,' the spokesman writes. According to lawyer Kötter, however, this offer was not about an apology conversation. When the father and son's case will proceed is not known.
