Alabama Police Chief Acknowledges Violation of Policies in Fatal Shooting of Steve Perkins

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Decatur Police Chief Acknowledges Violation of Policies in Fatal Shooting of Black Homeowner

In a recent statement, Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion admitted that department policies were violated when officers shot and killed Steve Perkins during a dispute with a tow truck driver. However, Pinion did not provide further details regarding the specific policies that were breached.

The internal investigation into the fatal shooting of Perkins, a 39-year-old Black man, has recently been completed by the Decatur Police Department. The incident, which occurred on September 29, has sparked regular protests in the north Alabama city. Perkins was shot by a police officer while officers accompanied a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his truck.

According to the initial public statement from the Decatur Police Department, officers were called to the scene by the tow truck driver, who claimed that Perkins had pulled out a gun. The police further 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 reads, “I have found reason to believe that policies were violated, and the final report and findings have been forwarded to the Legal Department and outside counsel to prepare the necessary documents for the discipline process.” The city’s mayor will now conduct a review and make a final determination regarding the appropriate disciplinary actions. The officer who fired the shots remains on administrative leave, but the department has not disclosed their name or race.

A neighbor’s home surveillance camera captured the incident on video, which was subsequently published by WAFF. The footage shows the tow truck backing into Perkins’ driveway, followed by an officer shouting, “Police, get on the ground,” and immediate rapid gunfire. The police have not released any body-camera footage related to the shooting.

An attorney representing the Perkins family informed The Associated Press last month that Perkins appeared to be unaware of the presence of officers before they opened fire on him. The family also stated that the truck payments were up to date, questioning the justification for the vehicle’s repossession.

Nick Perkins, Steve’s brother, expressed a “slight sense of relief” upon hearing the police chief acknowledge the policy violations. However, he criticized the lengthy duration of the investigation and emphasized that the family has already seen the video footage from the cameras.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is currently conducting an investigation into the shooting. Police Chief Pinion acknowledged the pain experienced by the community and expressed the need for all information to be released, policy violations to be addressed, and potential litigation to be resolved in order to facilitate healing in Decatur..