Scandalous Incident in Oldenburg: Lack of Bodycam Footage Fuels Outrage over Police Operation
Malfunctioning or Turned-Off Body Cameras Prompt Continued Criticism Concerning Police Practices
The controversial death of 21-year-old Lorenz in Oldenburg, Germany, has sparked a whirlwind of questioning and dissent. Recent external video footage has cast doubt on the police account of the events, and now the absence of bodycam footage from officers involved is raising eyebrows.
In the aftermath of the fatal police shooting that occurred in the Oldenburg pedestrian zone on Easter Saturday night, legal representative for Lorenz's mother, Thomas Feltes, has expressed concern. "In my opinion, that camera should've been on during this case," he stated to the "HAZ". Enabling bodycams to run could have potentially prevented the tragedy.
Lorenz was struck five times by a police officer. Autopsy results revealed injuries to his hip, torso, and head. Three shots striking him from behind and a fourth grazing his thigh.
Initial reports alleged that Lorenz had sprayed irritant gas in front of a nightclub, resulting in minor injuries for several revelers. Subsequently, he fled. Upon attempting to apprehend him, Lorenz is said to have approached officers menacingly and sprayed more gas towards them.
A Scandal in the Making
Rafael Behr, from the Hamburg Police Academy, labeled the fact that officers were wearing body cameras but failed to activate them as "scandalous." In retrospect, the bodycam footage could have provided valuable insights into the situation. "That they’re still not ordered to be activated, that they are turned on, I find utterly scandalous," Behr expressed to ntv.
The police have reportedly been examining the mobile phone of the responsible officer and evaluating police radio transmissions from that evening. Yet, there are no recordings from the body cameras of the officers present at the scene. The devices simply were not turned on. The shooter, a 27-year-old, has been temporarily suspended. The Oldenburg public prosecutor's office is conducting a manslaughter investigation against the officer.
Video Recording Calls Police Version into Question
Investigations are currently underway to evaluate video and audio recordings, as reported by Spiegel. These recordings, acquired from fixed cameras in the Oldenburg city center, offer a vague depiction of the events.
The video suggests Lorenz moves towards an officer before turning away just before the shots are fired. Contradicting initial statements that Lorenz had approached the officers in a threatening manner, the knife that was said to have been involved in the incident does not appear on the video recording.
Problems with Internal Investigations
The investigation into the fatal shooting of Lorenz has raised concerns, as it was conducted by a neighboring department. Tobias Singelnstein, a criminologist, criticized this approach. "Investigations by the neighboring department is the worst model we have in Germany," Singelnstein stated.
He expressed that the potential for bias within the investigating department could impact the integrity of the investigation. "One doesn’t even have to assume that there’s an active attempt to favor the suspects," Singelnstein added. Personal connections or familiarity with the suspect or the situation can make it challenging to maintain impartiality.
The incident must be scrutinized closely, as Singelnstein pointed out. "One will have to examine very carefully why this operation escalated so much and what contributed to its escalation," Singelnstein said. Most investigations against police officers for excessive use of force eventually drop, according to research, with fewer than 2% of cases going to court.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Tags: Oldenburg, Police, Bias, Lower Saxony, Police Brutality, Germany
- The absence of bodycam footage from officers involved in the Oldenburg incident has heightened the public's concerns, especially since the officers were supposed to be wearing them.
- Rafael Behr from the Hamburg Police Academy finds it scandalous that the bodycams were not activated, potentially missing out on valuable insights from the tragic incident.
- The video recordings from fixed cameras in the Oldenburg city center are currently being evaluated, and they contradict initial statements about Lorenz approaching the officers menacingly.
- Criticisms have been raised about the investigation into Lorenz's death being conducted by a neighboring department, as it could potentially introduce bias and compromise the investigation's integrity.
