TEMPLE, TX — A petition to release the dashboard and body camera footage of Michael Dean's shooting has been started by Central Texas Fighters for Change.
The petition is calling for "transparency, followed by accountability and reform" in an effort to rebuild the communities confidence in law enforcement.
The Change.org petition has more than 1,820 signatures with a goal of 2,500.
The creator, Terris Goodwin, is directing the petition to the Temple Police Department, District Attorney Henry Garza, and the Temple City Council.
"Police Departments across the country have released video evidence in officer-involved shootings in the spirit of providing transparency and accountability to the communities they serve. Temple PD and our city officials should do the same. Please join the Dean Family and the Central Texas Fighters For Change as we petition to release any video footage of this incident immediately to his family, and eventually, to the public."
"To the Police Department and DA Garza," the petition says. "Many citizens in the community you serve feel that up to this point, the Police Department, as well as other elected officials, to now include DA Garza, have not been transparent throughout this process. Now’s the time to start to repair the damage and make it right. The Citizens of Temple Texas are watching and waiting for you to do the right thing."
This petition follows the arrest of Carmen William DeCruz for the second-degree felony offense of manslaughter.
Michael Dean was shot and killed by DeCruz on December 2.
