Lessons learned (or missed) with the 2015 police killing of Jamar Clark

By Harry Colbert, Jr., Editor-in-Chief

History repeats. 

But does it have to? 

This now infamous photo captured the moment Jeremiah Ellison stood face to gun with a Minneapolis police officer following the police killing of Jamar Clark. Photo courtesy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Renee Jones Schneider

As we are square in the midst of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering handcuffed and unarmed George Floyd, the questions many are asking is why did the killing have to happen and what could have been done that would have prevented it. Sadly, we’ve been here before in Minneapolis.

Sometime after midnight on Nov. 15, 2015, 24-year-old Jamar Clark fell victim to Minneapolis police. Like Floyd, Clark was unarmed. He was not subject to an active criminal investigation. He was a worried young man checking on a friend who was just loaded into an ambulance with a broken leg. Clark got into a brief verbal confrontation with Minneapolis Police Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze. Ringgenberg grabbed Clark from behind and pulled him to the ground – as seem in video released by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. Moments later Clark was shot in the head. He died two days later.

Twenty-four-year-old Jamar Clark, killed Nov. 15, 2015. 

Prior to the release of video multiple witnesses said Clark was not the aggressor and never posed a threat to officers. In scenes eerily reminiscent to the aftermath of the George Floyd killing an outraged community took part in an 18-day encampment at the Fourth Precinct police headquarters and multiple protest ensued. Like the protests of the Floyd killing, white nationalist extremists attempted to blend in with those seeking justice for Clark and cause mayhem. Outed by legitimate protesters, Allen “Lance” Scarsella opened fire and wounded five people. He was later convicted of assault and sentenced to 15 years. 

Further protests erupted on March 30, 2016 when Freeman announced he would not bring charges against Ringgenberg and Schwarze. Community activist said the killing and their believed lack of justice left them hurt, but not broken and strengthened their resolve to fight for justice and against police violence. 

Teto Wilson (at podium) calling for charges to be brought against the officers who killed Jamar Clark. Photo courtesy of Insight News

But were lessons learned from the Clark killing and subsequent uprising?

“I’m not sure,” said Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, who is part of the council now calling for a defunding and reimagining of police. “But accountability matters. Writ large, we have an accountability problem with the MPD (Minneapolis Police Department). What police do on the ground won’t change unless there’s accountability.” 

In part it was the killing of Clark and subsequent protests that led to him running for public office. In particular – in an image that was shared globally – it was Ellison with hands in the air and his head inches from a police weapon, the officer fully clad in tactical gear. 

“I saw that (police pointing weapons at protesters) dozens of times while I was out there,” recalled Ellison. “That photo blew up because of my privilege of my dad being in office, but that happened dozens of times during those 18 days.” 

Chain link fencing and barbed wire recently went up at the Fourth Precinct headquarters on Plymouth Avenue in anticipation of unrest during and after the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Photo by Harry Colbert, Jr. 

Ellison’s father is current Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, then a representative in the U.S. House. The elder Ellison’s office is handling the prosecution of Chauvin.  

The killing of Clark also sparked something in Teto Wilson. 

Wilson had exited the Elks Lodge at 1614 Plymouth Ave. N. on Nov. 15, 2015 when he and friends noticed police activity across the street. Within seconds Wilson said he saw police pull Clark to the ground and then shoot him in the head. Wilson said the memories are haunting, but doing nothing would haunt him more. 

“With Jamar Clark’s death, what it sparked in me was an upfront recognition that Black men’s lives are seen as invaluable and I needed to use my voice and talents for Black people as a whole,” said Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Image Barber and Beauty and who since started a scholarship for Minneapolis high school students. 

Wilson said judicial action against Ringgenberg and Schwarze may have brought about policy changes within the department that could have saved the life of George Floyd, but their punishment alone would not have been enough.

“Had they (city officials and prosecuting attorney) paid attention maybe … just maybe … we wouldn’t have had the killing of George Floyd,” said Wilson. 

In the wake of the Floyd killing, changes are occurring. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced new recruitment priorities for incoming recruits including assigning greater weight to applicants who have experience in social service and reside in Minneapolis. The changes also include assigning greater weight to volunteer experience and substance use disorder counseling. 

“Having grown up in Minneapolis, I know first-hand the value of having officers who are familiar with, and deeply invested in, the communities we serve,” said Arradondo. 

Last fall MPD overhauled the use of force and no-knock warrant policies. An example of the new policy played out in January when police encountered a suspect with a gun at Dowling and Vincent avenues north, who fired upon officers. While police initially met the threat with lethal force, nonlethal rounds were later deployed and the suspect, though wounded, was taken into custody alive.