Arkansas Republican Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman are pushing for answers about ATF’s March 19th SWAT raid, during which Little Rock Airport executive Bryan Malinowski was shot and killed in his own home.
“The Department of Justice confirmed to us last night that the ATF agents involved in the execution of a search warrant of the home of Bryan Malinowski weren’t wearing body cameras. We will continue to press the Department to explain how this violation of its own policy could’ve happened and to disclose the full circumstances of this tragedy. Mr. Malinowski’s family and the public have a right to a full accounting of the facts,” the Senators said in a joint statement released Friday.
ATF has yet to comment officially about Malinowski’s killing other than to claim he fired first. But Malinowski’s family recently said in a statement that the 53-year-old airport executive likely did not know he was trading gunfire with federal agents. It is far more likely he believed he was defending himself and his wife from armed home invaders.
A yet-unidentified ATF agent shot Malinowski in the head with a carbine at least once. Malinowski lingered for two days before dying of his wounds.
A story published last week chronicled a host of less-lethal tactics ATF could have used during the raid — any one of which would have spared Malinowski’s life.
The Senators are not the only elected officials seeking answers from ATF. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has serious questions, too.
“As someone who couldn’t be a bigger law enforcement supporter, when our government acts in a particular way that raises questions, we have an obligation to say something. My understanding, having looked at the ATF rules is that they generally require a bodycam when there’s a preplanned raid, right? Why? Well, because information from a camera helps fill the vacuum of conspiracy and all this other stuff. So, record it with a bodycam that’s required and then there’s policy that it shall be released as soon as possible,” Griffin said during an interview with local media last week.
A Justice Department memo titled “Use of Body-Worn Cameras by Federally Deputized Task Force Officers” recommends that local police officers assigned to a federal task force should use body cameras during “a planned attempt to serve an arrest warrant or other planned arrest; or the execution of a search warrant.”
If the cameras capture law enforcement actions resulting in “serious bodily injury or death,” the memo requires that the federal sponsoring agency and the U.S. Attorney should release the recordings “as early as possible.”
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About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
You know how I know this is 100% F’d up?
I used to do this.
I used to investigate ’em.
I used to write the Warrants.
I used to take it to the Duty Judge and Explain it.
And I used to Lead and Execute the Warrants.
Both Search,
AND Felony Arrest.
Both Knock, and No-Knock.
This is Really, REALLY F’d up.
Am I going to Stick Up for my Brothers?
As Long as they’re out there Illegally and Intentionally violating Americans Rights, Imprisoning Innocents, and committing Murder, Over and Over again?
NO!
as in
Hell No!
The ATF has become a murdering force with no consequences and that needs to stop immediatly . Time to hold the goons accountable for thier criminal activity and the murdering of innocent people . Everyone one involved should be publicly hung . This would cure the problem . A rope dance for the ignorant clowns and for all to witness would be justice for all .
In Summary,
ATF Lied.
DOJ Lied
They all Lied,
and will continue to Lie
And the ATF and all the other acronym agency’s will continue to execute US Citizens until Joe gets his ‘Disarmament Mandate’ accomplished.
It was not an execution of a search warrant. It was execution warrant! The FBI also pulled an execution warrant a few months back! This crap has to stop and these government criminals have to be put on trial!
murdering f’ing bastards. if they were supposed to wear body cameras and didn’t, everyone involved in that conspiracy to murder a citizen should be summarily executed for failing to do while engaged in that illegal action. if only they held themselves to the same standard as they hold us to. but we don’t get the benefit of having governmental immunity. you can’t tell me that this bloated agency doesn’t have the resources to purchase and maintain bwc’s for their swat teams. hell, almost every police agency in America has them. cold blooded calculated killers, the worst gang in America. like… Read more »
Oh, so we are worried about a gun show loop hole? How about a person was murdered under the guise of law enforcement legally doing there job? Well how about the ATF camera loop hole? The key word from the article which is copy and pasted below is RECOMMENDS. It does not say shall so in government terms means they won’t. A Justice Department memo titled “Use of Body-Worn Cameras by Federally Deputized Task Force Officers” recommends that local police officers assigned to a federal task force should use body cameras during “a planned attempt to serve an arrest warrant or other… Read more »