DECATUR, Ala. (AP) – The police chief of Decatur, Alabama, has admitted that department policies were likely violated when officers shot and killed a man during a dispute with a tow truck driver. However, Chief Todd Pinion did not provide further details on the specific policies that were breached.
In a statement released on Friday, Pinion announced that the internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins on September 29 has been concluded. The incident, which took place in front of Perkins’ own home, has sparked regular protests in the city. Perkins, a 39-year-old Black man, was shot by a police officer while officers were accompanying a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his truck.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
Initial reports from the Decatur Police Department claimed that officers were called to the scene by the tow truck driver, who alleged that the homeowner had brandished a firearm. The police stated that Perkins later threatened the driver and turned the gun towards one of the officers. However, Perkins’ family has disputed this version of events.
Pinion’s statement revealed that he had found reason to believe that policies were violated during the incident. The final report and findings have been forwarded to the Legal Department and outside counsel for the preparation of formal documents to initiate the disciplinary process. The city’s mayor will then review the case and make a final determination on whether discipline is warranted, and to what extent. The officer who discharged the shots remains on administrative leave, and the department has not released the officer’s name or race.
Video footage captured by a neighbor’s home surveillance camera, published by WAFF, shows the tow truck backing into the driveway. An officer can be heard shouting, “Police, get on the ground,” followed by rapid gunfire. The department has not yet released body-camera footage of the incident.
An attorney representing the Perkins family has previously stated that Steve Perkins was not aware of the officers’ presence before they opened fire on him. The family issued a statement asserting that the truck payments were up to date, and therefore, the truck should not have been towed.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
While Perkins’ brother expressed some relief upon hearing the police chief acknowledge policy violations, he also voiced frustration at the length of the investigation. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is currently conducting its own investigation into the shooting.
Decatur’s police chief acknowledged the pain caused by this incident and emphasized the need for transparency and resolution before healing can begin for the community.
