Editorial: Elgin opts for transparency in I-90 police shooting

Of all the images that made the news Thursday with the release of an Elgin police video documenting the fatal shooting of Decynthia Clements, the one that strikes us hardest is a photograph of her father from a press conference the family called.

Head bowed, Charles Clements holds his hand to his face, overcome with emotion in a picture taken by Rick West of our photo department.

Our hearts go out to him and to his family.

They go out also to police who, based on the video evidence of the March 12 traffic stop, appeared to have been intent on peacefully resolving a difficult encounter with a motorist who seemed clearly disturbed.

We agree with Elgin City Councilman Terry Gavin's assessment of the scenes that played out in the video.

"There are so many moving parts to this whole thing, this tragedy," Gavin said. "But the one variable that changed the whole dynamic and caused it to end this way was the fire that she started in the car.

"The police officers are moving in not to arrest her but to rescue her. She came at the police in two steps. It looked like she was making a move at the police officer.

"It's sad for the community. It's sad for the family."

It remains still unclear whether use of deadly force was necessary, whether proper police protocol was followed in confronting Clements.

It appears from the video that she brandished a knife and it is evident without question that she was behaving abnormally, but it is not clear what alternatives police had.

An independent investigation, now under way, will have to address those questions.

For now, however, we are impressed by the choice the police department, led by Chief Jeff Swoboda, has made in favor of transparency.

This is indeed a sad day for everyone. Swoboda has recognized the importance of communicating with the public, and his decision greatly relieves tensions that naturally arise in a situation like this.

This far into a review of what happened at least, we're also impressed by what appears to have been a professional approach by police that seemed focused on Clements' well-being.

We're impressed as well by the restraint her family has shown at such a trying time.

Obviously, good intentions were not enough to prevent a tragic outcome, and an independent assessment of what could have been done differently is necessary.

Let the justice system play out.