Spitball Army

From al.com:

A nationally televised interview with Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford falsely implied that a 2008 filmed police beating occurred under the watch of previous city leadership, former Mayor Bernard Kincaid and Police Chief Annetta Nunn said today. Both are calling for a correction.

Langford was interviewed by CNN on Wednesday about the beating incident that occurred following a police chase than ended with the suspect’s vehicle overturning and police attacking the unconscious man.

In the interview, Langford said he and Police Chief A.C. Roper only recently learned about the incident.

“Neither of us saw this,” he said on CNN. “It was under the previous administration.”

Langford today said he never meant to implicate the former city leadership, but was referring to police supervisors still on duty from the previous administration under Nunn.

But on television, CNN’s Roland Martin asked whether the former mayor or chief had taken responsibility for their part in the abuse.

“Have they owned up to their responsibly as well?” asked Martin. Langford responded that the information was new to everyone.

Langford took office Nov. 13, 2007. The incident took place Jan. 23, 2008, nearly two months after Mayor Bernard Kincaid and Police Chief Annetta Nunn were out of office. Langford’s comments on CNN caught the attention of both Kincaid and Nunn, with Kincaid calling for correction.

“Normally, I don’t make public comments involving the activities at City Hall but the activity is so egregious that I feel I must,” Kincaid said. “It did not happen on my watch and I wish anyone who made public comments to that effect would correct it publicly.”

Nunn said she was also shocked by the mayor’s comments.

“I don’t understand his confusion because he took office in November 2007, not last year,” she said. “I was no longer in office.”

Langford called it immaterial who was in charge when the abuse occurred. The problem must be addressed and will be under his watch, he said.

“We’re not going to get sidetracked by this deal or under whose watch it was on,” Langford said. “Put it on my watch. Put it in my lap. It’s on my watch and I’m going to fix it on my watch.”

More reasons why Larry Langford must go:
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford Indicted (Val Walton, The Birmingham News, 2 December 2008)
Leapin’ Larry Goes Berserk (Kyle Whitmire, The Birmingham Weekly, 21 May 2009)