Two New Orleans Police officers are heading to prison after being sentenced on Thursday in connection with the post-Katrina shooting death of an unarmed man in a local strip mall and subsequent burning of the victims’ body, obstructing justice.
Former NOPD officer David Warren received a sentence to 25 years and nine months in prison for his involvement in the Sept. 2, 2005 shooting death of civilian 31-year-old Henry Glover. Warren was found guilty by a federal jury of a civil rights violation for using a firearm to commit manslaughter.
Current NOPD officer Greg McRae was sentenced to serve 17 years and three months in prison for his involvement in the burning of the remains of Glover. McRae was convicted of two civil rights violations. One of the counts charged that McRae willfully used fire to obstruct justice, and the other that he willfully deprived Glover’s family members of their right to seek justice in the courts for his death.
When hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans in August 2005 police officers who remained in the city along with The National Guard were dispatched to prevent looting in the city devastated by the hurricane.
Ex-officer Warren, 48, said that he thought that Glover had a gun and he posed a threat when he shot him at a local strip mall.
US District Judge Lance Africk rejected his testimony, saying “Henry Glover was gunned down because you believed he was a looter,” Africk told Warren, according to a report by the Associated Press.
“Instead of upholding their oath to protect and serve the people of New Orleans in the days after Hurricane Katrina, these officers abused their power, and violated the law and the public trust,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, in a press release.
“Today’s sentences send a powerful message that no one is above the law,” said Jim Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in a Department of Justice press release, “and that those who are sworn to protect our citizens are never, under any circumstances, relieved of their sacred responsibilities under our Constitution.”
Letten added, “We will continue to do everything in our power—and use every law and weapon in our arsenal of justice to make certain that our police never abuse power they wield. Today is an important step forward for the courageous Glover family and the people of New Orleans, and an important move toward the city’s healing and rebuilding.”
Former NOPD officer David Warren received a sentence to 25 years and nine months in prison for his involvement in the Sept. 2, 2005 shooting death of civilian 31-year-old Henry Glover. Warren was found guilty by a federal jury of a civil rights violation for using a firearm to commit manslaughter.
Current NOPD officer Greg McRae was sentenced to serve 17 years and three months in prison for his involvement in the burning of the remains of Glover. McRae was convicted of two civil rights violations. One of the counts charged that McRae willfully used fire to obstruct justice, and the other that he willfully deprived Glover’s family members of their right to seek justice in the courts for his death.
When hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans in August 2005 police officers who remained in the city along with The National Guard were dispatched to prevent looting in the city devastated by the hurricane.
Ex-officer Warren, 48, said that he thought that Glover had a gun and he posed a threat when he shot him at a local strip mall.
US District Judge Lance Africk rejected his testimony, saying “Henry Glover was gunned down because you believed he was a looter,” Africk told Warren, according to a report by the Associated Press.
“Instead of upholding their oath to protect and serve the people of New Orleans in the days after Hurricane Katrina, these officers abused their power, and violated the law and the public trust,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, in a press release.
“Today’s sentences send a powerful message that no one is above the law,” said Jim Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in a Department of Justice press release, “and that those who are sworn to protect our citizens are never, under any circumstances, relieved of their sacred responsibilities under our Constitution.”
Letten added, “We will continue to do everything in our power—and use every law and weapon in our arsenal of justice to make certain that our police never abuse power they wield. Today is an important step forward for the courageous Glover family and the people of New Orleans, and an important move toward the city’s healing and rebuilding.”
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