Justice For Joseph (Joey) Weber
Justice For Joseph (Joey) Weber
The Issue
On Thursday, August 18, 2016, 36 year-old Joseph (Joey) Weber was shot and killed by a Hays, Kansas police officer. Joey was autistic and had limited verbal abilities. He was unarmed at the time of his death. He led police to a familiar place of safety, a home for those with disabilities, following a traffic stop. He was shot and killed in front of that home. The officer who killed Joey is Sgt. Brandon Hauptman, a 9-year veteran who was a leader on the Special Situation Response Team.
According to a release by the Ellis County Attorney’s Office, Weber was stopped for a traffic infraction and failed to obey the officer’s commands. It took a month for any information, including Joey’s name, to be released even after repeated requests by news organizations and public demonstrations. There were no bodycams because Hays police do not have them and have stated they have no plans to purchase them.
These types of injustices will continue all over this country if the department and officer are not held accountable. More awareness needs to be brought to the excessive force used by police officers and the inability to handle situations in a more competent manner. Almost 1/2 of people killed by police have a disability (Source: Ruderman Family Foundation White Paper). This needs to stop now.
Kansas lawmakers, Joey's family and Justice For Joey are drafting a bill to cover the aspects of special needs awareness during a law enforcement encounter. We are currently aiming to establish identification in an attempt to diminish confusion for both law enforcement and a person with a disability in a face-to-face encounter. Currently, we are in the very early stages of outlining the bill and specific details will be forthcoming.
We seek justice for Joey. His death should have never happened. Hays PD has ZERO bodycams and refused to attend an autism awareness training held days before Joey’s death. We want to create Joey’s Law to protect those in the disabled community during police encounters so this tragedy never happens again. Sign this petition to help us end police's use of excessive force and implement Joey’s Law.
Please visit us online and get more involved at:
https://justiceforjoey.com
If you'd like to help further, a fundraiser has been set up in Joey's honor at:
The Issue
On Thursday, August 18, 2016, 36 year-old Joseph (Joey) Weber was shot and killed by a Hays, Kansas police officer. Joey was autistic and had limited verbal abilities. He was unarmed at the time of his death. He led police to a familiar place of safety, a home for those with disabilities, following a traffic stop. He was shot and killed in front of that home. The officer who killed Joey is Sgt. Brandon Hauptman, a 9-year veteran who was a leader on the Special Situation Response Team.
According to a release by the Ellis County Attorney’s Office, Weber was stopped for a traffic infraction and failed to obey the officer’s commands. It took a month for any information, including Joey’s name, to be released even after repeated requests by news organizations and public demonstrations. There were no bodycams because Hays police do not have them and have stated they have no plans to purchase them.
These types of injustices will continue all over this country if the department and officer are not held accountable. More awareness needs to be brought to the excessive force used by police officers and the inability to handle situations in a more competent manner. Almost 1/2 of people killed by police have a disability (Source: Ruderman Family Foundation White Paper). This needs to stop now.
Kansas lawmakers, Joey's family and Justice For Joey are drafting a bill to cover the aspects of special needs awareness during a law enforcement encounter. We are currently aiming to establish identification in an attempt to diminish confusion for both law enforcement and a person with a disability in a face-to-face encounter. Currently, we are in the very early stages of outlining the bill and specific details will be forthcoming.
We seek justice for Joey. His death should have never happened. Hays PD has ZERO bodycams and refused to attend an autism awareness training held days before Joey’s death. We want to create Joey’s Law to protect those in the disabled community during police encounters so this tragedy never happens again. Sign this petition to help us end police's use of excessive force and implement Joey’s Law.
Please visit us online and get more involved at:
https://justiceforjoey.com
If you'd like to help further, a fundraiser has been set up in Joey's honor at:
Petition Closed
Share this petition
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on September 22, 2016