The San Antonio Observer is considering publishing the names and addresses of police officers after the deadly shooting in yet another case of police brutality. Antoine Scott was brutally shot by an undercover cop, who was not in uniform, because of the cellphone in his hand, which the officer claims he believed to be a gun. There are audio recordings of officer John Lee walking over to the car Scott was in and asked to see his license and promptly shot him in the chest killing him instantly. Police Chief, officer McManus said, “The officer quickly approached and told Scott to ‘let me see your hands,’ then almost immediately fired his service weapon, according to McManus.”

These events prompted Stephanie Zarriello, chief editor of The San Antonio Observer to announce her plans to print the names of individual officers and their addresses. She warrants this action by saying “Like Ku Klux Klansman with hoods, [officers] do everything they can in order to protect their identities for fear of being brought to justice,” Zarriello said.

“So, in light of these facts, we at the San Antonio Observer Newspaper Group are looking into the future prospects of publicizing the names and addresses of all San Antonio Police Department officers in order to protect our community,” Zarriello said. “Just as the names and addresses of sex offenders are publicized in order to protect the public from their wicked behavior, we feel that our community has the right to the exact same level of protection.”

The San Antonio Police Department did not address the Observer, saying they would instead commit to an unbiased evaluation of the events and a possible prosecution.

Many have come to criticize Zarriello actions but the question remains, is this justified? Many would say the safety of our justice system is necessary under any circumstance. Though the murder of African Americans by policemen is becoming enough of a trend that it is clear that something ought to be done. The naming of officers would put people at risk but it would arguably even the odds of systemic oppression. It, for the moment, seems as if the San Antonio Police Department is actually committing to an unbiased review of what is clearly police brutality. Whereas even the police chief does not contest the ‘hasty’ decisions made by officer Lee. It seems as if for the time being that this act will jet the resolution it deserves, though it would obviously be better to not have murdered someone in the beginning.