Brandt Jean – a brother of a Dallas black man, who was shot and killed by a white cop – has received the 2019 Ethical Courage Award from the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration.
Brandt grabbed the headlines early October when he openly forgave the Dallas cop who murdered his brother, Botham Jean. His action has stirred mixed reactions with many describing him as confused.
During the hearing, Brandt asked the judge for a chance to hug the killer Amber Guyger as she embarks on her 10-year prison sentence – a request the judge granted. The two embraced for a minute.
After the sentence was announced, Brandt offered Guyger his forgiveness.
“If you truly are sorry, I know I could speak for myself I forgive you and I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you,” Brandt said somberly.
“I love you just like anyone else,” he continued, adding, “and I’m not gonna say I hope you rot and die just like my brother but I personally want the best for you and I wasn’t gonna say this in front of my family or anyone else but I don’t even want you to go jail.”
“I want the best for you because I know that’s what exactly Bothan would want you to do and the best would be to give your life to Christ.”
At the two day-day ethics conference where he was awarded, Jean charged officers to ensure that there will be no other family who will suffer similar fate like his.
“I want you to remember him. I want you to ask yourself what are you doing to ensure that there will be no other families like mine, no other little brothers that have to model ethical leadership in forgiveness of a cop whose lack of training and discipline caused them to carelessly take a life of another.”
“I want you all to know I am not a threat, that young black males are not inherently dangerous or criminal,” he said, entreating those in attendance to keep Botham in their thoughts as they went about their duties.
“I insist that you encourage diverse leadership that can model inclusion and restraint,” he said. “Most importantly, I ask that you remember my brother – my example of ethical leadership, a young black male that was perceived as a threat by one of your own”.
“I’m truly grateful for this award, and I hope others can see the light in what I did,” he concluded.
Guyger murdered Botham in cold blood last year after she ‘mistakenly’ went to his apartment thinking it was hers. When her key did not work, Jean opened the door and was fatally shot.
Guyger was convicted of murder by the jury empanelled after less than 24 hours of deliberation, according to reports.
