Photo courtesy of Variety
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has always provided resources needed in the Black community. However, this time, he has founded a program called Autopsy Initiative to help families whose loved ones have died from police-related deaths to conduct a second autopsy at no cost with full access to findings in the report.
The program will partner with “board-certified pathologists” to execute the autopsies.
“The Initiative seeks to be a resource to victims’ family members by providing confidence in the forensic procedures and comfort in knowing the pathologists will conduct the autopsy with neutrality,” Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp wrote on the website.
The 34-year-old’s Autopsy Initiative described police-related deaths as those that occur “when an individual is harmed by police officers while using deadly force which results in the individual’s death. A police-related death includes in-custody deaths. In-custody deaths include deaths that arise during contact with law enforcement officers during arrest, pursuit, booking, transport, or incarceration.”
Though the definition of “police-related deaths” are broad, they’re likely caused by an extensive list of law enforcement officers, including state troopers, police officers, sheriffs, correctional officers, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.
A person who has a “close relationship” with the victim, like relatives, partners, friends, or lawyers, can request an autopsy for someone who lost their lives while in police custody. To apply for the initiative, they have to fill out an online form with information about the victim, when, where, and how they died and why they’re requesting a second autopsy.
“We know that the prison industrial complex, which includes police and policing, strives to protect and serve its interests at all costs,” Kaepernick said in a statement sent to Newsweek. “The Autopsy Initiative is one important step toward ensuring that family members have access to accurate and forensically verifiable information about the cause of death of their loved one in their time of need.”
The website’s frequently asked questions recommend those applying for the program request a second autopsy as soon as possible. After the exam is completed, preliminary findings will be available for the person who requested the autopsy.
“I am extremely enthusiastic about this truly unique program,” said Dr. Cyril Wecht, one of the pathologists on the initiative’s panel. “The opportunity to have unbiased second autopsies performed by independent, experienced forensic pathologists in police-related deaths will provide victims’ families with knowledge that the true facts of any such case have been thoroughly analyzed and prepared for appropriate utilization whenever deemed necessary.”