On April 21, 2020 the Tucson Police Department received a call for help from a grandmother concerned that her son was behaving erratically. Officers arrived at the home and after a struggle were able to restrain Carlos Ingram-Lopez. For 12 minutes after securing Mr. Ingram-Lopez the officers ignored his repeated pleas for water and his statement that he could not breathe, instead threatening to shock Mr. Ingram-Lopez with a Taser.
We condemn the callous disregard for human life displayed by the officers involved. While the officers have resigned we demand a complete, thorough and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Ingram-Lopez and a rigorous prosecution if criminal charges are filed.
We are also deeply disturbed that this incident was kept from elected officials and the public for two months while an internal investigation took place. This demonstrates a clear lack of accountability to the governing body by the police department. We call for the adoption of administrative procedures mandating the immediate notification of elected officials in the event of a police involved death.
First responders should not cause the deaths of people suffering from addiction and/or mental illness. In addition to a complete, thorough and independent investigation, we call for the reallocation of budget resources to provide the community with trained mental health and addiction specialists available to respond around-the-clock to calls for help like the one placed by Mr. Lopez’s family. We demand that government officials provide a 911 system that results in an appropriate response rather than a 911 system that defaults to a police response. Only then can we feel a reasonable degree of confidence that someone else’s life will not be lost unnecessarily.
The Rev. Dr. William M. Lyons
Conference Minister, Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ
The Rev. Michael Lonergan
Pastor, Church of the Painted Hills, UCC
The Rev. Seth Wispelwey
Interim Pastor, Rincon Congregational UCC
The Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey
Justice and Local Church Ministries
National Setting for the United Church of Christ
The Reverend Alison Harrington
Pastor, Southside Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Ailsa Guardiola González
Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Rev. Bart Smith
Lead Pastor, St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Steve Keplinger
Rector, Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Tina Schlabach
Co-Pastor, Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, Tucson