“During its April 6 meeting, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council unanimously approved an ordinance change exempting police car and body cam videos from the tribe’s public records law,” Holly Kays of the Smoky Mountain News reports. “The vote comes on the heels of a Dec. 13, 2022, Cherokee Indian Police Department SWAT response in which officers fired at Murphy resident Jason Harley Kloepfer after he opened the door to his home with his hands held above his head, according to a home security video Kloepfer posted Jan. 18.”
AmmoLand Shooting Sports News reporting included that video in January, followed up by articles questioning the deliberate indifference to this story by major media, a presentation of the Calls for Services recording and transcript with timeline, and documentation of charges dropped against Kloepfer at the request of the individual who set events in motion with a 911 call followed by the District Attorney’s recusal of herself from the case over perceived legal conflicts and questions of other potential conflicts on the part of investigators.
The interests of gun owners in a complete and transparent investigation are clear: Kloepfer was evidently shot as a first reaction by tribal Indian SWAT because of the presumption based on a 911 call from a neighbor that he was armed and dangerous. Any gun owner who might find himself wrongfully accused, whether it be due to a “red flag” complaint or other confiscation order could have his life, and the lives of those he lives with, put in immediate danger. As evidenced by an armed homeowner fatality in a recent wrong house raid, the victim doesn’t even have to be the subject police are looking for.
Without strong checks and balances to ensure police accountability, the danger to all citizens, armed or not, will remain, and it’s not unfair to wonder what part editorial bias might play in the media’s lack of interest in the Kloepfer story. The notable exception is Smoky Mountain News, which has been on top of this story from the start. That’s no small show of commitment when close-knit connections on the part of powerful and seemingly immune local civil authorities are considered.
As things stand, particularly noting “Video of the Dec. 13 shooting had been subpoenaed — but two weeks later, criminal charges against Kloepfer were dismissed and the subpoenas were never executed,” any assumptions outside that civil authority loop about bodycams are speculative. That makes it paramount that investigations receive credible oversight to ensure they are transparent and complete.
This is especially true since, during the Tribal Council meeting, “concern about placing such a strong barrier to public access of law enforcement recordings” was minimal, and “the few representatives who offered comment indicated they saw protection for officers as the priority and cited a desire to give [Cherokee Indian Police Department Chief Carla] Neadeau ‘what she wants’ in this matter.” The ordinance was submitted by Neadeau, and states “It is not feasible nor in the public interest to subject recordings made by body-worn and in-car cameras to the EBCI’s [Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian’s] public records law…”
That’s facilitated by North Carolina state public records law, which “provides that these recordings can be released to the public only by court order.”
Chief Neadeau and the Tribal Council are effectively saying what’s in the police’s interest is in the public’s interest and they’re codifying that into law. And with the lack of concern by major media to inform the public, no one but a handful of citizens will be the wiser.
The unanimously passed ordinance, awaiting action from “Principal Chief Richard Sneed, who has 30 days to either sign it, veto it, or let it pass into law unsigned,” follows:
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
so, they decided that transparency to the public is not important?
big government, small government, they are all the same. it is them against us.
how can the responsible parties be held responsible for these criminal actions? bwc’s are in use in many law enforcement, as they should be to hold leo’s accountable for their actions.
this will not end well.
Scary! I would think that given the history of wrongs they have endured, the Cherokee would be against tyranny rather than supporting it.
I think you’ll find that the ‘oppressed’ are only against oppression when they are not in charge.
So it would seem.
So it really IS, as evidenced by their actions!! Just like in the “big city” police departments, they hire the worst possible types of men and women to pin a badge on, ones who are narcistic, low IQ, sociopathic, no responsibility cases. Since the public are paying for those men and women and all of their toys, the public has a Right to see any and all records of what goes on! If you buy a car or truck, don’t you then have the right to take a peek under the hood at any time?? Of course you do! If… Read more »
It’s the same for the large contingent of deep blue Jewish folks in NYC.
I have no animosity toward the Jewish people in general. However, it continues to surprise me that they generally support the party and policies that don’t support Israel and do support/defend the Muslims who would wipe Israel and all Jews off the map.
Rumor has it one of Anacondas finest shot himself in the hand while play with his laser sight . I would love to see the body cams footage of that be made public.
First let’s get it straight. The Eastern Band of Cherokee is not the same as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. With that said Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma recently passed red flag laws that are against tribal members within the boundaries of Cherokee Nation. They are allowed to do this even though the state of Oklahoma doesn’t have them. Our chief is a Biden supporter and we are having elections this year to try to get him out and get these liberal laws changed. I will guarantee if they she to my house they will not get my firearms.
Tribes hide their genocidal histories, and the prevalence of slavery and war crimes against each other, so this is no surprise.
The only reason for this is “Having something to hide, period.
I don’t see one Injun on that team…..how strange.
White Devils in charge on Tribal lands, no wonder they make heap trouble.
For real!!!!
Either you can be a member of the tribe with just a small percentage of Cherokee DNA or they intentionally non Indians who won’t hesitate to let the Natives know who’s in charge. Also a strong possibility those white officers failed to make the cut at other agencies.
I thought the whole point of body and in dash cameras was to document exactly what happened in any police incident. I’m sure they will gladly release and publicize any footage the could be used against a suspect.
In other words, they can kick down the wrong doors, shoot innocent folk and no one but them will know what really happened!
One common thread in such populations is that some manage to get themselves on the “outside” looking in, and never can fit. Someone in the family did something stupid and bad years or generations ago, and the progeny are still being blamed and ostracised, never “fitting in”. Sorta along the same lines as the legendary Hatfield-McCoy squabble of a bygone era. My bet is somehow this sort of “non-politics” was in play with the original incndent, and the guy got shot is “n the outside”. Thus no one wants to allow any blame or guilt or repercussions against them that… Read more »
Interesting outlook. Good post!
I lived in Whiteman’s land in between 2 Reservations for 28 years here in the Soviet of Washington. I have seen the dichotomy between tribal cops and county sheriffs change drastically after we gave them money trees. Tribal dicks used to be used like meter maids, drunk roust-about’s and process servers, small things. Investigations were done in concert with the County Sheriff or a municipality if they had an “interlocal memorandum” with the agency. They had no jurisdiction over anyone other than tribal members. If I drove drunk through the Rez on a State Road and got nabbed by a… Read more »
Nope, they should be required any video to be made public after any and all interaction with the public period. People are going to stop opening the door to police for fear of getting shot by a scared LEO.
Isn’t FOID a federal law, thus due to supremacy local governments cannot exempt themselves? Seems to me that this tribal council is putting themselves on pretty shaky ground. Sure as indians they are separate and not restricted by state law – but aren’t they still subject to all federal laws?