Daniel Holtzclaw’s case was the topic of a recent Facebook Live Event where Tulsa police officer Jason Angel answered frequently asked questions.  Watch the recorded Facebook Live Event here:   Facebook Live Event

Daniel’s wrongful conviction was also featured on the Pat Campbell Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 5, 2019, during which Jason Angel discussed the biased investigation and ways in which police officers can protect themselves from being the victim of false allegations.

You can listen to the KFAQ Talk 1170 Radio interview with Officer Jason Angel here:  Radio Show

Excerpts from the interview:

OFFICER JASON ANGEL:  "I saw how the media could very quickly take a narrative and they latch onto it and run with it, even if it’s not the truth. […] One of my primary reasons for talking about [Daniel’s case] was because I knew this could happen to anybody on my department.  And I thought if this happens to me or any of my buddies, I want to be able to say, ‘Hey, look at this case over in Oklahoma City.  It wasn’t what we all thought it was. So, let’s pump the breaks and make sure the investigation is done completely and thoroughly -- and honestly -- before we throw anybody under the bus.’

“[Daniel Holtzclaw] was thrown under the bus so many times.  And then to be convicted and said you're going to go to prison for the rest of your life, especially at such a young age, to me it's just devastating.

“There is not evidence that a single crime was committed. For us, we don't start with a suspect in mind and then look for a crime. [...] Here, she [the detective] is looking for potential other victims.

“In the case where a woman says that it was a black police officer that assaulted her, during the interview [the detective] says something along the lines of, after she's heard, 'Hey, it was a black police officer, shorter than me, he drives a black and white patrol car,' -- all these things that are absolutely, obviously not Daniel --[the detective] goes, 'Now, don't worry. I know what cop did this to you.'

“And you're going, ‘Are you kidding me?! Did you not hear all the things she just said? You didn't take any of her claims seriously!’  If any of that actually happened to her, here's this poor woman who's been raped by a police officer, if that's what really happened, and her claims are completely disregarded. [The detective thinks] 'Hey, we got this other guy we want to worry about. All I wanted to hear was how Holtzclaw was guilty. What really happened to you, that is totally not important to me.’"

PAT CAMPBELL:  “By the way, subsequently we found out that there was a police officer matching that description in that vicinity at that time who’s also been in trouble.”

JASON ANGEL:  “Yeah, in trouble for prostitution.”

PAT CAMPBELL:  “Daniel is like 6’2” and he’s Asian. He’s not a short black guy.”

JASON ANGEL:  “Instead of going, ‘I have this other allegation,’ [detectives] go, ‘Uh, you know what?  How can I make this fit Daniel because I think he’s bad, I already have this bias towards him, and I want to take him down.'"

PAT CAMPBELL:  “What’s the takeaway for you and other law enforcement officers out there? HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?  HOW DO YOU PREVENT YOURSELF FROM BECOMING THE NEXT DANIEL HOLTZCLAW BEING SET UP?”

JASON ANGEL:  “I think one of the things that is important is actually talking about Daniel’s case and raising awareness of it because I think, one, that helps people to have an open mind of what can actually happen to police officers, and not just have your first reaction to be, when somebody’s accused of something, to distance yourself or to throw that person under the bus.

“The disadvantage that Daniel had is he didn’t have any cameras -- [no] body camera, he didn’t have an in-car camera -- to prove what he was doing out on that traffic stop. 

“For us [in the Tulsa PD], we have a body camera policy that tells us when we have to have the camera on.  And there are often times where we’re going, ‘You know what? I’m taking a report call at somebody’s house, I’m having it on anyway even though I don’t have to by policy at this point, because I’m going to document that here I was alone with this female person reporting this crime, and if she does make an allegation, it’s going to be on camera that it’s absolutely not true.’ […] The camera is a good friend where it is able to see what’s going on. 

“The truth of the matter is, no matter what you have, you’re not going to be able to be protected against all complaints.  People are going to make complaints. It’s going to happen. Administrators and other police officers and the public, if they know that, hopefully they won’t throw the officer under the bus first chance they get when they hear that somebody was accused of doing something wrong.”