For more than a decade, the seemingly never-ending story of police tapes allegedly filled with racist comments and talk of illegal activity by South Bend cops has invited speculation, anger and mistrust.
Thursday’s ruling ― that the recordings were obtained illegally and must be destroyed ― may signal the end of the legal saga. But the wounds inflicted on this community won’t miraculously disappear.
Through it all, we’ve advocated for full transparency and the public release of the tapes within the parameters of the law.
Those parameters were set in the St. Joseph Superior Court ruling, which said that the recordings were obtained illegally. The court ruled that the tapes violate the Indiana Wiretap Act as well as the Federal Wiretap Act and must be destroyed. The order says, however, that the tapes must be preserved until all “appeals are exhausted.”
Whether the Common Council will appeal this ruling is unclear. Council member Oliver Davis has called for an appeal of the decision. Council President Canneth Lee said in a written statement that he is working on setting up an executive session to discuss “possible next steps to this long process.”
That long process has included millions of taxpayer dollars spent on legal fees. But should the council increase that tally?
Given the alternative, we hope the council will appeal. In a 2014 comment, we noted that “The issues won’t go away, and the community won’t move on, until the facts are revealed.”
They will never be revealed if Thursday’s ruling stands, and if the council doesn’t ensure that all “appeals are exhausted.”
Editorials represent the opinion of the Tribune Editorial Board. Its members are Audience Engagement Editor Alesia I. Redding, Enterprise Editor Cory Havens and Executive Editor Ismail Turay Jr.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: End of police tapes saga? The wounds won’t just disappear | Editorial
Reporting by Editorial Board, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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