Governor Abbott has recently appointed a new person to serve on the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. This commission is in charge of setting the minimum licensing and training standards for police statewide.

A COMPLICATED PAST

The new appointee has raised more than a few eyebrows due to this person's complicated past. New appointee, Justin Berry, is one of the 18 indicted Austin police officers accused of using excessive force during a George Floyd 2020 protest.

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The case Berry is involved in documents an account of police officers with little training in riot control wreaking havoc on unarmed demonstrators. During a protest Berry, in particular, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant.

MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

“This is an indicted officer who is now part of the body licensing and regulating law enforcement agencies,” Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, told the Texas Tribune. “It’s a move in the wrong direction, and it makes us unsafe."

State Representative Jarvis Johnson, responded to the news in a tweet that reads:

“Nothing says ethical law enforcement standards quite like appointing a police officer charged with Aggravated Assault from his actions during the George Floyd protest...which were about police brutality."

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DEFENDING THE DECISION

Regardless of the divided public opinions, Gov. Abbott and Berry defended the decision. A spokesperson for Abbott's office writes, “Justin Berry is a proven public servant who has selflessly worked to protect his community and his fellow Texans; the officers who worked during the 2020 protests deserve to be praised, not prosecuted.”

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