Police brutality cases spark non-profit

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indianapolis mother has formed an unusual non-profit organization. Its focus is to help victims of police brutality.

The group is called Citizens Against Brutality and it was formed by family members of police brutality victims.

The Director of Public Safety, the police chief and a police public information officer all had no comment Wednesday about the group, but leaders of the new non-profit had plenty to say.

In July 2007, an IMPD camera caught the kick felt across a community. Officer Adam Chappell put a foot in the face of handcuffed teenager, Brian Jeter.

In a plea deal, Officer Chappell agreed to additional training, but the city had to pay up in a settled civil suit.

Three years later, the Brandon Johnson case. Another teenager, another battered face. A police officer fired. But some Indianapolis mothers say that's not enough.

"We need a change within the department. We need a change in how procedures and policies are handled," said Fredricka Hill, Brian Jeter's mother.

Hill formed Citizens Against Brutality, or CAB, a vehicle through which other alleged victims are guided to medical and legal and emotional support.

"I will have a lot of clout and resources to do the things that we need to do that the city has not been able to provide for these citizens when they file a complaint," said Hill.

In a recent news conference, officers responded to concerns about police responsibility.

"We have 1,700 police officers that deliver a high quality of service to our community every day. Our officers are incredibly respectful, sometimes under the worst of circumstances," said IMPD chief Paul Ciesielski.

Indianapolis Metro Police officers say incidents of excessive force are isolated.

Hill disagrees.

"This is not a single incident. This is a pattern, so I feel like we do need a change," she said.

She hopes her newly-established nonprofit, CAB, is able to bring about the changes she believes are needed. Johnson's mother, Shantay Chandler has joined her in the effort.

"Somebody somewhere has got to do something about the police brutality," said Chandler.

CAB leaders ay they're getting help from members of the religious community. They hope to raise money to help suspected brutality victims with legal fees.