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SALT LAKE CITY — The streets of downtown Salt Lake City erupted on Saturday after a 17-year-old was shot by police officers.
On Wednesday, former Salt Lake City Police chief Chris Burbank spoke out about that shooting, and was very critical of the handling of the case.
Burbank said the Salt Lake City Police Department is dropping the ball with the community by not releasing the body camera footage of Saturday's police shooting where two officers opened fire on 17-year-old Abdullahi Mohammad during a fight on Rio Grande street.
"We're talking police actions, were not talking someone's private home," Burbank said.
Burbank said if he were still the police chief, by now, he "absolutely" would have released the police body camera video of the shooting.
Burbank said it's all about trust and transparency, something he said the Salt Lake City Police Department is failing at.
"I think the most valuable thing about the video is that it gives you transparency," Burbank said. "It just builds that whole mistrust. Most importantly, it says 'We've got nothing to hide.'"
Given the recent climate on the streets, Burbank said delaying the release of the video to the public poses one problem, and showing it to public officials poses another problem.
"That's a risky thing to do," Burbank said. "When you start playing the game, 'Well, the mayor is watching it. Who's watching it?'" Well, it's not evidence if you're allowing a public official to view it."
"You're putting her (Jackie Biskupski) in the chain of custody of evidence, which is very risky. You're subjecting her to be subpoenaed."
Burbank said the department is doing itself more harm than good, and said it's time for everyone to see the video.
"At a bare minimum, (the police) owe the public 'This is why we used force.'"
When reached out for a response to Burbank's criticism, the Salt Lake City Police Department did not return KSL-TV's phone calls.
Contributing: Xoel Cardenas
