*The brother of Botham Jean, the unarmed Dallas man shot to death by a trigger happy cop in his own apartment, has been honored by a police agency for his embrace of the officer convicted in the killing.
The Texas-based Institute for Law Enforcement Administration bestowed its 2019 Ethical Courage Award on 18-year-old Brandt Jean for his Oct. 2 courtroom display, NBC reports.
A Dallas County jury sentenced Amber Guyger to 10 years in prison in October after convicting her of murdering her upstairs neighbor Botham in his apartment last year.
We previously reported, after delivering a victim impact statement to Guyger during trail, Brandt asked Judge Tammy Kemp if he could hug Botham’s killer.
“If you truly are sorry, I know I can speak for myself, I forgive you. I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you,” said Brandt during his statement.
Kemp granted his request, and he and Guyger embraced. The move sparked outrage across social media.
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger Sentenced to 10 Years for Murder of Botham Jean
“Pathetic Christian man. Amber only deserves scorn and curses,” said one Twitter user of Brandt.
“He’s better than me. There ARE some things only God can forgive. SMH. I can’t get invested in another one of these cases. They all go the same way, even with a “Murder” charge,” added another.
A third noted: “This is why I can’t commit 100% to Christianity. You kill my brother you’ll never get a wink of sleep, prison or not. I’m on your ass, period. Motherf*ck a forgiveness.”
Brandt told the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration that he’s “honored to accept” the Ethical Courage Award “on behalf of my brother Botham Shem Jean, who was an example of ethical leadership,” he said at the institute gathering in Plano, Texas.
“I never intended for the statement I made to the person that murdered my brother to receive such international recognition,” Jean said. “To be honest, I struggled with it for a long time as I struggled with accepting this award from this agency.”
He added: “My brother was well aware of the danger posed to young black men (by police).”
On Tuesday, Brandt explained why he was compelled to hug Guyger.
“I am grateful for this award for the same reason I was grateful for the opportunity to embrace her after she was convicted of murder in her trial,” he said. “After being found guilty by a jury of her peers, sentenced under the law, Ms. Guyger needed to be forgiven, and I needed to be free from the burden of unforgivenness.”
He also had this message for the officers in the room: “I want you all to know that I am not a threat — that young black males are not inherently dangerous or criminal. I implore you to champion the causes and procedures that amplify the value of all lives.”
Gregory Smith, director of the law-enforcement institute, said “Brandt Jean represents the best in us.”
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