
Clashes are erupting between local and federal officials over the hundreds of joint task forces that operate around the country, specializing in missions such as finding fugitives, fighting drug dealers, or tracking potential terrorists.Washington provides money, expertise and weaponry. Local law enforcement agencies provide much of the manpower. Their officers are deputized as federal agents, which among other things means that the Justice Department can shield them from litigation and local oversight.
"Because of the way that this system has been created, is there a group of law enforcement officials who can essentially do whatever they want?"—Paul L. Howard, district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia
Monteria Robinson, Jamarion's mother, filed a federal lawsuit against the law enforcement agencies involved in her son’s death. The case is still pending. Photo by Lynsey Weatherspoon
Jamarion Robinson, at left in red in a family photo. Photo by Lynsey Weatherspoon
So far in 2019, at least three police departments have left federal task forces.The city council in Portland, Oregon, voted in February to pull local cops from the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force over concerns about racial and ethnic profiling. "We as a community have to be vigilant to make sure that people aren't being put into harm's way just based on where they were born or what language they speak," said Jo Ann Hardesty, a council member who campaigned on the issue."The negative implications of our employees not wearing these cameras far outweigh any positives we gleaned from being involved in the task force."—Erika Shields, Atlanta police chief
Left Image: Jimmy Atchison in family phoots. Right Image: The closet where he died. Photos by Lynsey Weatherspoon
Cynthia Atchison and Jimmy Hill, mother and father of Jimmy Atchison, who was unarmed and hiding in a closet when he was killed by an Atlanta police officer who was part of the FBI’s Atlanta Metro Major Offender task force. Photo by Lynsey Weatherspoon