The Syracuse Police Department found that officers did not use excessive force in the viral arrest of a man for playing loud music, Chief Kenton Buckner announced at a Monday press conference.

Using PowerPoint slides and body camera footage, Buckner unpacked the arrest of Shaolin Moore, 23, of Syracuse, on May 31. Footage of Moore’s arrest shows an officer pulling him out of the vehicle by his neck before striking Moore in the head.

Christopher Buske and Leonard Brown, the two officers who arrested Moore, have been disciplined for violating professionalism, Buckner said. SPD’s internal investigation of the officers’ use of force found that Buske and Brown violated the SPD’s demeanor policy by using vulgar language and unnecessary commentary.  

Buckner played footage at the press conference from the body cameras of officers at the scene of the arrest. In the body camera footage and the viral video, Buske can be heard cursing at Moore and threatening to spray him with pepper spray.

“The use of force was appropriate and consistent with our policy and training,” Buckner said.

Moore was charged with resisting arrest and a sound reproduction violation, which refers to playing music too loudly. SPD’s investigators concluded that the officers behaved within departmental policies to bring Moore into custody. Buckner said the officers were justified their actions because Moore refused commands from officers and physically resisted legal apprehension.  

The body camera footage released by SPD shows the moments before Yamil Osorio, the passenger of the vehicle, begins recording what would become a viral video.

In the video, Buske approaches the traffic stop and asks Moore if he would step out of the car.  Moore then asks the reason, before Buske opens the car door and says that the volume of his music violates city ordinance.  

After Moore asks if Buske can issue him a ticket instead, Buske clarifies that sound reproduction violation allows him to arrest and search a suspect.

“Despite what you may think about this entire incident, whether good, bad or indifferent, we cannot ignore the different levels in response from police officers in response to the actions they were receiving in that car,” Buckner said.

The investigation was conducted by the department’s internal affairs function, which is housed in the Office of Professional Standards. The review included interviews with Moore and officers involved, as well as a review of body-worn and personal cameras.

The Instagram video sparked a silent protest outside Syracuse City Hall on June 5, with organizers calling on Buckner and Mayor Ben Walsh to reform SPD’s use of force policy. Buckner had revised SPD’s use of force policy during the first half of 2019, but the policy details were not announced until Friday.

Following the video’s publication, Buckner said the officers involved in the arrest remained on duty while being investigated. Common Council President Helen Hudson has condemned the arrest as “excessive” use of force.  

SPD will hold a public forum on the use of force on Friday, June 28 with Buckner and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.  The time and location of the forum has not yet been announced.

Published on June 17, 2019 at 8:31 pm

Contact Richard: rjchang@syr.edu | @RichardJChang1