The Washington Post
Print Edition | Subscribe | PostPoints
METRO A Blue Wall of Silence
  NEWS
  Politics
  Nation
  World
    METRO
    Special Reports
    Virginia
    Schools
    Crime
    Government
    Traffic
    Lottery
    Obituaries
    Religion
    Columnists
    The District
    Maryland
    Police
     Police Shootings
    Photo Galleries
    Live Discussions
    Metro Index
  Style
  Business
  Technology
  Health
  Education
  Real Estate
  Obituaries
  Corrections
  Archives

washingtonpost.com > Metro > Maryland > Police > Police Shootings

Charles Grant's brother, Kendell, was killed by an officer who said he refused to drop a knife. (Dudley M. Brooks - The Washington Post)
On This Site
Names and Faces Gallery: A look at the shooting victims.
Documents: Copies of relevant official documents, including coroner's reports, worker's compensation claims and Firearms Discharge Forms.
Audio/Video: Audio and video related to this series, including 911 tapes and discussions with the reporters.
Live Onlines
Criminologist Sam Walker discussed the police shootings. Read the transcript.
Pr. George's State's Attorney Jack B. Johnson took your questions. Read the transcript.
Mary Zdanowicz, of the Treatment Advocacy Center, discussed relationships between police and the mentally ill. Read the transcript.
Criminal justice professor James J. Fyfe took questions on the series. Read the transcript.
Edythe Flemings-Hall, of the NAACP Prince George's Chapter, discussed the shootings. Read the transcript.
Professor Geoffrey P. Alpert took questions on police training methods. Read the transcript.
Professor Alvin L. Thornton took questions on the Post series. Read the transcript.
About the Series
DAY 1: Prince George's County police officers shot and killed people at rates that exceeded those of nearly any other large police force in the United States from 1990 through 2000. Almost half the people targeted by police were unarmed. Police officials declared all of the shootings justified but kept details about them secret.

DAY 2: Many Prince George's police officers use their guns again and again. Almost 20 percent of police shootings since 1990 involved an officer who had shot someone before. Records show that officers who are repeatedly accused of excessive force are rarely disciplined by their superiors.

DAY 3: Police have shot at least a dozen mentally ill or emotionally distraught people since 1990, including six whom officers were initially called to help.

DAY 4: Police said they didn't seriously injure Clarence Stewart, Elmer Newman or Charles Huddleston, but autopsy reports show that all three men were severely beaten before they died while in handcuffs.

Related Sections
 False Confessions: Pr. George's police coerced confessions from suspects.
 Pr. George's Police
 Fatal Flaws: The District's unsolved homicide problem.
 Deadly Force: D.C. police lead the nation in shootings.
Day 1
Killing With Impunity 
Prince George's County police have shot and killed people at rates that exceed those of nearly any other large force in the nation.
 Also in The Post: Efforts at Reform Repeatedly Stalled
 Web Exclusive: Rodney Simms: One Man, Twice a Victim of Police Shootings
 Web Exclusive: Gary A. Hopkins Jr.: Accolades Given in Student's Death
 Web Exclusive: Major Maurice Anderson: Homeless Man Wounded by Off-Duty Officer at Mall
 Web Exclusive: Rahsaun Richardson: One Officer's Actions Cost $1.75 Million
 Video: Washington Post Roundtable, Day 1
 Audio: 911 Call Regarding Kendell Grant


Day 2
Police Clear Their Own
Some Prince George's police officers face repeated complaints, but charges filed against them usually go nowhere.
 State Law Hampers Investigators
 Results Of Chief's Efforts Are Mixed
  Web Exclusive: Wayne D. Cheney: 1 Officer, 2 Similar Shootings
  Web Exclusive: Wendell C. Brantley: Despite Shooting Past, Officer Lauded
  Video: Post Roundtable, Day 2


Day 3
Mentally Ill People Shot
Prince George's officers have killed or wounded at least 12 mentally ill or disturbed people since 1990.
 Experts: Shooting at Cars Perilous
 Exclusive: 'He Thought They Were Attacking Him'
 Exclusive: Minorities Are Shot More
 Exclusive: Mistaken Identity
 Video: Post Roundtable on Day 3
 Audio: Julie Meade's 911 Call
 Audio: 911 Call for Dwayne Waiters
 Discussion Transcript: County State's Attorney
 Discussion Transcript: Handling the Mentally Ill
 Discussion Transcript: Criminal Justice Professor


Day 4
Deaths in Custody
Records on the deaths of 12 detainees suggest that police often sought to cover up beatings and sometimes delayed medical care.
 Records Kept Confidential
 Exclusive: Death Remains a Mystery
 Video: Post Roundtable on Day 4
 Audio: Elmer Newman's 911 Call
 Discussion Transcript: NAACP Activist
 Discussion Transcript: Training Methods
 Discussion Transcript: Police Accountability


More News
Rights Investigation Of Police Continues: Pace of Pr. George's Inquiry Angers Some (Post, Dec. 22, 2002)

The Reassuring Routine Of 'No-News' Briefings (Post, Oct. 9, 2002)

Prince George's Settles in Shooting: Student's Family To Get $200,000 (Post, May 7, 2003)

Contradictions In Pr. George's Police Shooting (Post, Jan. 21, 2003)

Flawed Police Decisions Turned Deadly: Innocent Man Slain in 2000 Secret Pursuit, but Pr. George's Offers Few Answers (Post, Aug. 4, 2002)

Many Boycott Prince George's Honors: Fellow Officers Object to Decision Not to Include 2 Under Investigation (Post, April 12, 2002)

Officers Told to Skip Pr. George's Police Awards Ceremony: Two Top Winners Under Investigation (Post, April 11, 2002)

Charges Dropped Against Alleged Pr. George's Brutality Victim (Post, March 25, 2002; 4:03 PM)

Officer's Term Angers Police in Pr. George's (Post, Dec. 12, 2001)

Ex-Officer Receives 10 Years In Prison: Maximum Term In Prince George's Police Dog Case (Post, Dec. 11, 2001)

Suspended Officer Faces 2 Probes: Man Alleges He Was Assaulted in Pr. George's Traffic Stop (Post, Nov. 7, 2001)

Pr. George's Prosecutor, Police Spar: Offices Blame Each Other For Investigation Blunders (Post, Sept. 21, 2001)

Police Restraints A Factor In Death: Report Inconclusive In Mt. Rainier Case (Post, Aug. 28, 2001)

Farrell, Vocal Critic Join Forces: Pr. George's Chief Calls on Faith Community to Help Defend Police (Post, Aug. 13, 2001)

Woman Testifies To Earlier Incident With Police Dog: Officer Accused of Threat in '98 (Post, Aug. 3, 2001)

FBI to Probe Pr. George's Police Cases (Post, Aug. 3, 2001)

Prosecutor Says Campaign To Target Police Brutality: Johnson Maps Strategy for Bid to Succeed Curry (Post, July 16, 2001)

For Many Md. Police Agencies, the Tape's Already Running (Post, July 12, 2001)

Cases Tied To Killing Of Jones Are Dropped (Post, July 12, 2001)

Stronger Police Panel Sought in Pr. George's (Post, July 11, 2001)

Lawmaker Wants New Powers for Police Panel (Post, July 10, 2001; 4:43 PM)

Curry Wants New Police Procedures: Officers' Use of Deadly Force Would Get Public Scrutiny (Post, July 7, 2001)

Justice Dept. Clears Pr. George's Officer Who Killed Student (Post, July 7, 2001)

Pr. George's County Executive Curry's Statement (Post, July 6, 2001; 5:14 PM)

Curry Responds to Police Shootings (Post, July 6, 2001; 4:12 PM)

Prince George's Police Chief Urged to Step Down (Post, July 6, 2001)

Justice Officials Hear Residents' Concerns About Police (Post, July 5, 2001)

Activists Demand Police Reforms: Residents Must Agitate, Pr. George's Leaders Say (Post, July 5, 2001)

More Stories


© 2002-2005 The Washington Post Company