Earlier this month, the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP), in conjunction with the George Barrett Social Justice Program, hosted author and former Department of Justice (DOJ) investigator Jared Fishman to discuss his book Fire on the Levee. The book chronicles the case of Henry Glover, who was killed by New Orleans police officers in the chaos following Hurricane Katrina. Moderated by VPOPP Director Alissa Heydari, the conversation also featured FBI Special Agent Ashley Johnson, who worked alongside Fishman on the case.
Glover’s case went unreported for years until a man named William Tanner showed up at the New Orleans FBI office wanting restitution for a car that he alleged the New Orleans police stole from him. Years before, Tanner had come upon Glover hurt in the road and drove him to a location where he knew police would be. From there, New Orleans police took Tanner’s car, which was eventually found burned on a levee.
“It was so outlandish to me at the time that [I thought] it could not be real,” Johnson said.
Johnson was eventually joined on the investigation by Fishman, who worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Over the course of 18 months, Johnson and Fishman came to determine that Mr. Tanner’s story was, in fact, real.
“Henry Glover and his friend Bernard Calloway were trying to evacuate after Hurricane Katrina hit,” Fishman explained. “They were among the poorest of the poor, and Glover stole a truck in order to get out of town.”
When Glover drove to a strip mall to pick up items that friends had left behind, he was shot by New Orleans police stationed there to protect a nearby police station. Tanner found him shortly thereafter. Unable to take Glover to the closest hospital, Tanner took him to a local elementary school, where he knew police would be, assuming they would be able to give medical help.
“Unbeknownst to [Tanner], he was met by numerous police officers of the Special Operations team,” Fishman said. “They pulled William Tanner, Edward King, and Bernard Calloway of the car, handcuffed him, assaulted the men, and Henry Glover was left in the car.”
After conducting countless interview, sorting through evidence, and several coverups, Fishman and Johnson were able to bring justice to Henry Glover.
“Ultimately, 18 months later, Ashley and I were able to collect enough evidence, along with our colleagues, to charge five police officers for the murder of Henry Glover, the burning of his body and the cover up that followed it,” Fishman said.
Glover’s case and the recount of the investigation in Fire on the Levee shows the unique position of civil rights prosecutions to bring justice to the underserved and hold those who abuse their power accountable.
Watch the full discussion below or on our YouTube:
