Did Officials Do Enough for Mississippi Mom Whose Son was Killed By A Cop and then Buried Without Her Knowledge?

The city of Jackson issued a (very much delayed but much required) apology to the family of Dexter Wade, the Black man who was run over by a police car earlier this year and buried in a pauper’s grave unbeknownst to his family.

Bettersten Wade, the dead man’s mother, along with civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump gave Wade a proper funeral Monday, approximately nine months after he was killed. Wade was fatally struck by an off-duty officer’s police vehicle in March and buried weeks later by the county, per WAPT.. However, despite being reported missing, his family didn’t discover he was dead until this summer. After a pathologist hired by Crump revealed Wade had identifying documents on him the day he died, it’s safe to say someone dropped the ball on notifying the family their loved one was gone.

Since the discovery, Wade’s family and attorneys believe the department and city have schemed together to coverup the incident. At the funeral, members of the city council were there not necessarily to take accountability but to apologize.

Read more from WAPT:

“Once people stop trusting government, they stop believing in government,” Councilman Kenneth Stoke said. Stokes apologized to the family during Wade’s funeral Monday, before calling on the council to follow his lead.

“They believe it is a coverup. The city of Jackson needs to be open and above board. Tell everything they know,” Stokes said.

“There were some shortcomings on the side of the city, and it makes it even worse for the members of city government,” said Councilman Ashby Foote. “It is heartbreaking, and my condolences go out to the family.”

“I believe it is important that we are transparent in everything we do,” said Councilman Vernon Hartley. “I think it is important to acknowledge the things we need to acknowledge.”

Councilman Stokes told WLBT a resolution is being proposed this week in connection to the incident, however, it does not mean the city would take responsibility for Wade’s death. The Root reached out to Stokes for comment on exactly the resolution entails.

Sharpton, Crump and also U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson recently called on the Department of Justice to conduct a federal investigation. Only then would the city have to worry about being dragged into this case.