Doctor Dies in New London Police Custody

The family of a man who died in custody in 2014 is set to receive an undisclosed settlement amount in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the New London police officers. Lashano Gilbert, a 31-year-old native of the Bahamas and a medical degree holder, died while in police custody. The settlement, however, still requires City Council approval, and the city's part of the settlement is lower than the insurance carrier's $250,000 deductible.

Physician Endured Final Moments of Excessive Electrocution, Restraints & Pepper Spray

The incident took place on October 4, 2014, when Gilbert died following a violent confrontation with police officers who were struggling to restrain him. The cause of death was attributed to "physical altercation (restraint, electric shock, pepper spray) during acute psychosis complicated [by] sickle cell hemoglobinopathy.(?)"

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, caused, "in part by the police confrontation," allowing New London police to escape accountability for their behavior yet again, once more relieving them of any legal responsibility for the homicide they committed on video.

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Replacing Medical Treatment w/ Arrest

In 2016, Gilbert's relatives filed a lawsuit against the city, ten police officers, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and an emergency room physician. The lawsuit alleges excessive use of force and negligence by the hospital for not conducting tests to determine Gilbert's mental state, which would have indicated he needed medical treatment more than he needed police to meet his clinical psychosis with escalating violence culminating in a homicide by strangulation. The remaining four police officers named in the suit are Richard Cable, Wayne Neff, Chris White, and Christopher Bunkley.

Death Occurs as Officer Kneels on Neck

After months of legal arguments, Judge Michael P. Shea ruled that there was a genuine dispute of material fact concerning the use of excessive force against Gilbert by the four officers. A surveillance video of the incident showed that after being subdued, Gilbert was held in a prone position with several officers leaning on him and kneeling on his neck for several minutes before his death, which appears on the video to occur after Gilbert has the blood supply moving through his neck cut off by an officer's knee. This occurs in the video recording which is posted to YouTube without its audio track, showing the group of panicked and agitated police escalate their use of violence, then lethal force on a completely unresponsive victim who transitions in the care of New London's public servants, from unresponsive to dead. Despite the careful worded news reports designed to help police avoid responsibility, Lashano dies in the video while in police custody with his neck under an officer's knee well before emergency medical personnel are seen to arrive.

Protect Residents from Civil Payouts

In summary, the settlement will bring an end to a long legal battle, and Gilbert's family will receive compensation for their loss. However, the incident highlights the need for police officers to exercise restraint and to treat people with mental health conditions appropriately. It is worth noting that the incident involving Lashano Gilbert's death in police custody highlights the importance of proper training for law enforcement officers, particularly in handling individuals with mental health conditions. However, it is also worth considering the fact that the city of New London excludes any applicant with an above-average IQ, which raises questions about the quality of the selection in the hiring process for law enforcement officers in the city. The cost of civil payouts resulting from incidents like this is ultimately borne by taxpayers, and it is essential that New London takes steps to ensure that its police force is staffed by highly qualified and well-trained individuals to avoid such incidents in the future.