We have studied the reports, the Court cases, the surrounding publicity, and we have posted them on this website so that you can do the same. We have prepared a synopsis of events, also posted here. As citizens, we find the initial responses and actions of the Troy Police Department and Rensselaer County District Attorney troubling.
“TPD investigation was deficient and incomplete….”
As outlined in the New York State Office the Attorney General, Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit, the “TPD’s investigation was deficient and incomplete…” Witnesses were ignored, and appropriate forensics analyses were not conducted. Additionally, the AG investigation found that subsequent independent forensic analysis and witnesses’ recounting of events indicated that the Sgt. French’s “account cannot be regarded as reliable…”
Policy and Procedure Recommendations
Edson Thevenin’s death exposed deficiencies in Troy’s public safety system and procedures. Police Reform discussions and processes are underway in our nation, state, City of Troy administration and in many advocacy organizations. Changes are needed to prevent further tragedy and to better protect both the public and the police. Recommendations for policy and procedure changes are from the Attorney General’s report and from other sources and include:
- Mandating the use of dashboard and body cameras at all times.
- Updating the policy on the use of body and dashboard cameras, including a prohibition of turning off the cameras and appropriate sanctions and employment penalties, including termination, when the policy is not followed.
- Revising General Order #06.01“Use of Physical Force” and General Order # 06.02 “Deadly Force” to prohibit shooting at a moving vehicle under any circumstance.
- Strengthening command supervision for reviews of police use of force, including appropriate and unbiased investigations.
- Creating an independent citizen review panel, with appropriate powers to subpoena, interview, investigate, and recommend corrective/remedial action.
For more information on these and other police reform recommendations, please go to ….
Support the Family
Communications to the Thevenin family were deficient in content, timing, and tone. The federal civil suit filed by Mr. Thevenin’s family has been pending for over four years. We urge the City to resolve this suit as soon as possible to bring closure to the family and the City. The link to Cinthia Thevenin’s official gofundme can be found at https://justiceforedson.com/.
1 New York State Office of Attorney General, Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit, “Report on the Investigation into The Death of Edson Thevenin, accessed at: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2018/ags-special-investigations-and-prosecutions-unit-releases-report-death-edson