Blood on the hands of Huntsville mayor and police chief
Posted May 11, 2021
The bad apples in Huntsville dwell at the top of the tree.
Looking at you, Mayor Tommy Battle and Police Chief Mark McMurray.
That’s a distinction a law enforcement officer should be able to make.
They sent a message, too, that Huntsville’s mayor needs to hear: They won’t tolerate the kind of police behavior Tommy Battle thinks is just part of the job.
One reckoning just happened here.
At least one more needs to follow.
Three years ago, William Ben Darby was the third police officer to respond to a 911 call from a suicidal man named Jeff Parker. Two cops were already on the scene. One was trying to talk down Parker, who had a gun to his head and was threatening to kill himself. They were trying to deescalate the situation.
Alabama officer convicted of murder still gets paid
1 week 6 days 16 hours ago
Tuesday, May 11 2021
May 11, 2021
May 11, 2021 10:45 AM
May 11, 2021
in
News
Source: Associated Press
Photo: WHNT
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - An Alabama police officer convicted of murder for shooting a suicidal man who was holding a gun to his own head has been taken off duty but will continue to be paid, the city of Huntsville said.
Officer William Darby, who was initially placed on desk duty following the killing of Jeffrey Parker in 2018, can t continue working as an officer because of the conviction and went on leave Monday, city spokeswoman Lucy DeButy told news outlets.
NationofChange
“An innocent man was murdered. He called for help, and he got Ben Darby.”
An Alabama police officer was
convicted Friday of murdering a man who had a gun pointed at his own head. A
senior officer attempted to de-escalate the situation when Huntsville Police
Officer William Ben Darby disregarded her orders and suddenly shot the suicidal
man in the face.
Around 4:25 p.m. on April 3, 2018,
Jeffrey Parker called 911 to report that he was armed and planned to commit
suicide. Huntsville Police officers Genisha Pegues and Justin Beckles arrived
at the residence and found Parker sitting on his couch while aiming a gun at
McMurray said his officers were “in the first stages of shock” after hearing the verdict.
“While we thank the jury for their service in this difficult case, I do not believe Officer Darby is a murderer,” he said. “Officers are forced to make split-second decisions every day, and Officer Darby believed his life and the lives of other officers were in danger. Any situation that involves a loss of life is tragic. Our hearts go out to everyone involved.”
Battle similarly said he disagreed with the jury’s verdict and pointed to Darby’s legal option to appeal it.
“Fortunately, Officer Darby has the same appeal rights as any other citizen and is entitled to exercise those rights,” he said.
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