Open Letter from Mayor Stimpson
Jun 23rd, 2016
Dear Colleagues,I am in receipt of your letter dated June 21, 2016, regarding the officer-involved shooting that took place June 13, 2016, in Mobile.
Since the shooting of Michael Moore, the City of Mobile has made multiple unprecedented moves to maintain peace and order, incorporating lessons learned from other communities that have experienced similar tragedies.
As an example, within hours of the incident, my Administration called upon the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice to run an independent investigation in parallel with the ongoing investigations being conducted by the Mobile Police Department.
In addition, we asked that the President of the Mobile chapter of the NAACP be allowed to witness the autopsy of Michael Moore. That request was honored by the Mobile County District Attorney's Office, who will also conduct their own investigation of the fatal shooting.
We took these steps to ensure transparency and demonstrate our commitment to achieving justice. In the days since June 13 we have met with representatives of the Black Panthers, the Nation of Islam, the NAACP, and numerous religious, neighborhood and community groups, as well as the Mobile City Council.
We have also conducted two news conferences in which all questions were answered in an effort to keep the public informed of the status of the investigation. We regret that many of you did not attend any of these opportunities, nor the multiple public meetings - too many to list here - that my staff and I have participated in during the past nine days as we work to heal our community. Several of those who signed the letter have participated in briefings held to respond to any and all questions, including many of those that you submitted to my office.
In response to your request, I am directing Mobile Police Chief James Barber to organize a briefing for you and the other members of the Mobile Legislative Delegation so that you may receive the latest information we have available.
In addition, I have shared your letter with the Department of Justice, asking that they consider your questions as part of their independent review.
Please be mindful that the incident remains under active investigation, and that we will have to handle ourselves accordingly.
I appreciate your interest in this matter and your work on behalf of our great city.
Sincerely,
William S. "Sandy" Stimpson
Mayor
Cc: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Mr. Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Mobile Division, FBI
Chief James Barber, Mobile Police Department