A former paramedic, Jeremy Cooper, who administered a fatal dose of ketamine to Elijah McClain, a Black man who died in police custody in 2019, was sentenced to probation on a charge of criminally negligent homicide. This comes after a string of trials that resulted in convictions for a police officer and two paramedics involved in the case. McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, believes that justice has not yet been served as she feels the acquittal of the two officers and other first responders who were present was unjust. Criminal charges against paramedics and EMTs in cases involving police custody are rare, but experts say that the increased focus on racial injustice and policing following George Floyd’s murder in 2020 has led to a shift in accountability.
McClain’s death sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice in policing in 2020, leading to increased scrutiny of police practices and deaths in custody. The convictions of the officers and paramedics involved in McClain’s death would have been unlikely prior to this reckoning, according to experts. However, the acquittal of two officers in the case highlights the challenges of holding law enforcement accountable in such situations. McClain’s mother continues to seek justice for her son, believing that all those involved in his death should be held accountable.
A second autopsy conducted after initial charges were declined found that McClain died as a result of the ketamine injection he received after being forcibly restrained by police. While paramedics and EMTs are rarely charged in such cases, the increased attention on use of force by police has led to more scrutiny and accountability for all first responders. Changes in policy and legislation in various states, including restrictions on neck holds and chokeholds following Floyd and McClain’s deaths, are seen as steps towards reform, but advocates believe more needs to be done to address systemic issues in policing.
Despite convictions in McClain’s case, there are concerns about the adequacy of accountability for all those involved in his death. McClain’s mother and advocates believe that the paramedics played a role in covering up the actions of the police officers and that justice has not been fully served. Efforts to address systemic racism in policing are ongoing, but the effectiveness of these changes may take time to assess. McClain’s case has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over police accountability and racial injustice, with calls for continued reform and oversight of law enforcement practices.
