Mother Assails Police for Son’s Death
A town hall on police and community relations Wednesday night grew tense when the mother of a man shot last year by police said she hadn’t received justice in the case.
Brandon Tate-Brown was killed during a December traffic stop in Mayfair; police said he was reaching for a stolen handgun in the center console of his car and that they acted in self-defense.
Wednesday, his mother — Tanya Brown-Dickerson — spoke out Wednesday at the “Philly After Ferguson” held at Catalyst of Change Church in West Philadelphia.
The Daily Pennsylvanian reports:
His mother, Tanya Brown-Dickerson, spoke at the event, begging police to release the footage from her son’s death.
“Brandon was tried, judged and condemned by the police,” Brown-Dickerson said. “Please just show me the footage.”
Brown-Dickerson also revealed that she had first learned of her son’s death over the radio on her way to work that morning.
“How many of you would be fine hearing of your child’s death on the media?” Brown-Dickerson asked. Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler also spoke out about how Tate-Brown’s death was handled in the media. “Before she even knew he was dead, we knew his whole criminal record,” he said.
Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, one of the panelists, offered an apology.
“We have a responsibility to let the person know, the loved ones know, what has occurred,” Bethel said.
Bethel said that the video would eventually be released, but that it remained part of investigations being conducted by the department and the District Attorney’s Office.
Tension at the meeting was reflected in tweets from observers and participants
Panel: Two members loudly yell "racist" at me when I try to speak.
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) February 12, 2015
#PhillyAfterFerguson crowd wanted @FOPLodge5 president John McNesby at meeting to explain why bad cops are defended by union. Legit request.
— Helen Ubiñas (@NotesFromHeL) February 12, 2015
#BrandonTateBrown's mother upset about how police tarnished her dead son's name by bringing up past transgression. http://t.co/0UAECs0wzK
— The Declaration (@DeclarationPHL) February 12, 2015
Meeting over. No one seems satisfied, in the least. #PhillyAfterFerguson
— Helen Ubiñas (@NotesFromHeL) February 12, 2015
A similar event featuring Commissioner Ramsey and District Attorney Seth Williams will be held March 19 in Lawncrest.