Assault on black St. Louis County police officer exposes racial hatred and failures in the justice system

From the Ethical Society of Police

Photos: St. Louis County Jail

The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) Board of Directors released the following statement regarding the recent attack on an off-duty St. Louis County police officer, exposing racial hatred and failings in the justice system. The despicable behavior of these individuals reflects the ugly history of white supremacy that plagued this country decades ago.

On September 26, 2024, an off-duty African American police officer was brutally attacked by several members of a road construction crew, sparking nothing short of racial hatred. The despicable behavior of these individuals reflects the ugly history of white supremacy that plagued this country decades ago.

As details of this ongoing investigation emerge, the facts are clear and frightening. The officer was about to turn from South Lindbergh onto Lemay Ferry Road, which was not properly marked with road closure signs, when a road construction worker approached his vehicle. What should have been a brief, uneventful exchange took a dark turn when Matthew Devlin, one of the suspects, began shouting racial slurs and hitting the car with an object. As the officer exited the vehicle, Devlin, without hesitation, struck him in the head with a hard hat while other crew members joined in. The air was full of hate. They spat at him and derogatory insults like “stupid n****r” filled the room as the vicious attack unfolded.

This attack was compounded by the heartbreaking mishandling of the situation by the same agency that was supposed to be this officer’s ally – the St. Louis County Police Department. When officers arrived on the scene, the off-duty officer – who had been beaten, humiliated and degraded – was treated not as a victim but as a suspect. Despite his pleas and despite the obvious signs of his innocence, the officers decided to arrest him, handcuffing him and reinforcing his attackers’ lies.

He stood for hours, bloodied and bruised, answering questions and being subjected to field sobriety tests, while his attackers’ words were treated with undeserved credibility. The officer was eventually released, but the damage was done – not just to his body, but to the trust that should exist between an officer and his department. This treatment represents a stain on the integrity of the justice system and requires immediate redress.

What happened that September night is a stark reminder that we are not as far removed from the horrors of the 1950s as we might think. The racial insults, the physical violence, the humiliation – these are the tools of hate that white supremacists used then and they continue to use today. We will not remain silent as the specter of the past haunts the present. This attack is more than a crime; It is an affront to our humanity, a blatant act of racial terrorism designed to intimidate and humiliate.

The suspects’ actions must be met with the full force of justice. We demand that the allegations against these individuals be reevaluated under the Missouri Hate Crime Statute. Their words and actions are not just expressions of violence, but of a deeper hatred that must be rooted out and condemned. They must answer for their crimes not only as attackers, but also as perpetrators of racist violence.

Additionally, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) must immediately terminate all contracts with the construction company involved in this incident. It is unacceptable for a company that condones or enables this type of behavior to operate on our public streets. The safety of all citizens – especially those in marginalized communities – must be a priority. This isn’t just about a company; It’s about ensuring that no one can commit such heinous acts without consequences.

ABOUT THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE

The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) was founded in 1972 by African American officers to combat race-based discrimination in the community and at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In 2018, the ESOP expanded to include membership for civilian and contracted law enforcement personnel in St. Louis County.

The Ethical Society of Police is an association of police officers and civilians whose mission is to bridge communication between historically marginalized communities and law enforcement. The ESOP works to improve community-police relations, develop policies and programs to reduce crime, improve the status of minority civilians and police officers, promote greater employment of minorities by law enforcement, and professionalism in law enforcement to increase. Membership is open to all races, nationalities, religions, political affiliations, sexual orientations and gender identities. For more information about the Ethical Society of Police, visit www.esopstl.org.