The Metropolitan Police Department’s total disdain for street cops has reached a new level. The message from the brass is: Risk your life at your own risk; and we don’t have your back. Think I’m overreacting?
On Thursday, Jan. 27, just before noon, D.C. police officers Tamika Hampton and Kimberly Sillah received a radio call about an “unwanted guest” at a row house in far Southeast. They rolled up in cruiser 7014 and saw broken furniture strewn about the front yard.
“My gut said ‘uh-oh’ — this was more than an unwanted guest,” Hampton tells me.
I have known Tamika Hampton for many years. Born in D.C., she came up through public schools in Anacostia, settled down and joined the cops. She wanted to give back, work with kids, make a life in public service. The following account of what happened on that call comes from her, and is backed up by official police department documents.
As Hampton and Sillah approached the house, Gloria Benbow came to the door. “Lock him up,” she pleaded. “He just hit me.”
The cops asked her to calm down and entered the house, where they first saw Kevin Jackson, a very large fellow with venom in his eyes. The cops separated the two and asked them for identification. On the way upstairs, Benbow knocked something off the bannister. Jackson “flipped,” Hampton said.
“Sir,” she said. “Calm down.” He turned their way and said: “You bitches better call for male officers.”
Jackson had been arrested six times for assault, kidnapping and theft, among other charges. He was convicted for assaulting a police officer in 2009. At sentencing, the judge said: “You’re lucky you didn’t get shot.”
Officer Sillah called for backup. No response.
Jackson came at the officers. He reached behind to his belt.
“Show your hands,” they demanded. He refused.
They backed up out of the front door and onto the icy lawn. Sillah called for backup. No response. Jackson opened the door and charged, one hand still behind. They drew their weapons, pointed down. They tried to leave the scene. He rushed at them.
The officers fired once. He kept coming. Twice. Same result. Third time, he retreated.
Cops and ambulances arrived. Jackson was wheeled away, still screaming at the women. He recovered. On July 22 he pleaded guilty to assaulting Hampton and Sillah.
A week later, on July 29, the MPD delivered documents to Hampton notifying her that the department had determined her actions a “dereliction” and that it was moving to terminate her. Sillah received the same news.
In telling Hampton it wanted to throw her off the force, the MPD mentioned she had had a stellar record for her seven years as a cop.
“Not only did we do what we were trained to do,” Hampton tells me, “we went above and beyond in trying to leave the scene and not use force.
“This shows me how dirty and corrupt this department is at the top,” she adds. “I have lost my trust and hope in this job.”
The department’s top brass said it would not comment on the personnel matter, which is headed to trial board. Next week I will preview it.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
