The Syracuse Police Department will discuss its updated use of force policy and answer questions from city residents during a public forum Friday night.

Chief Kenton Buckner will lead the forum with Mayor Ben Walsh, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens and SPD officers. The forum, held in downtown Syracuse, comes two weeks after SPD published its updated use of force policy — and nearly a month after the forceful arrest of Shaolin Moore, 23, of Syracuse, during a traffic stop. 

Both a viral video posted to Instagram and police body camera footage show SPD officer Christopher Buske grabbing Moore by the neck and pulling him from a vehicle after he refused to get out. Buske is seen striking Moore with a closed fist, with several officers later shown restraining Moore on the ground. 

SPD’s internal affairs investigation found that the two officers involved in the arrest didn’t use excessive force during the traffic stop. The investigation did find, however, that the officers violated the department’s demeanor policy by using vulgar language. Buske is heard in the video telling Moore “get the f*ck out of the car or else you’re getting sprayed.”

Buckner announced the results of the investigation at a June 17 press conference, saying that Moore did not comply with the officers’ commands and physically resisted arrest. The officer’s actions were appropriate under SPD’s policy and training, Buckner said. 

Moore was charged with resisting arrest and a sound reproduction violation, which refers to playing music too loudly. The officers involved in the incident remained on duty during the use of force investigation

The viral video sparked outcry from Syracuse community members, with many urging the department to revise and release its use of force policy, which determines when an officer may use physical force. Buckner worked to overhaul the department’s long-standing use of force policy since he became chief in December 2018, but the revised policy was not available to the public when Moore was arrested.

Under the new policy, officers are encouraged to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation and to use their discretion in determining whether to use force. Officers may improvise their actions under certain situations, with the rapid nature of an officer’s decision-making noted in the policy. Chokeholds are not permitted under the department’s updated guidelines.  

Buckner will provide an overview of the policy during the forum on Friday. Daren Jaime, a pastor at People’s AME Zion Church and a chaplain for SPD, will serve as the forum’s facilitator. 

Published on June 27, 2019 at 8:30 pm

Contact Emma: esfolts@syr.edu