An Ohio police chief is recommending the dismissal of a Columbus officer who shot and killed Andre Maurice Hill, a 47-year-old black man, on Tuesday morning.
Columbus police chief Thomas Quinlan said on Thursday that the department filed two charges alleging critical misconduct by police officer Adam Coy, a 19-year-old veteran of the force who was put on paid administrative leave. The charges are not criminal in nature and apply only to Coy’s job evaluation.
“I witnessed his critical misconduct firsthand through his body-worn camera. I saw everything I need to see to conclude that Officer Coy should be fired immediately, ”said Quinlan in a Christmas Eve video. “This violation cost an innocent man his life.”
Quinlain said the accused police officers normally go through a hearing before any wrongdoing or discipline is determined, but the seriousness of Coy’s actions nullifies that step.
Ned Pettus Jr., director of the state’s public security department, will make the last call on Monday about the police chief’s recommendation for termination, according to Quinlan.
The announcement came shortly after Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien appointed Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost as the special prosecutor in Hill’s case – a day after the footage of the body of the meeting was released. mortal, and the same day the protesters demanded justice outside the home, where Hill was killed.
O’Brien, a Republican who has held office since 1997, lost re-election in November to Gary Tyack, a Democrat who is expected to take office in 2021.
The union representing Columbus officials, the Fraternal Police Order, issued a statement on Thursday calling for calm until investigations into the shooting were completed. Although the statement did not mention Coy by name, it said that “every citizen, including officers, deserves due process”.
Hill was in an open garage in a house where he was a guest at around 1:30 am on Tuesday, police said.
The video from the body’s camera shows Coy using his flashlight as he and another policeman walked up the sidewalk towards Hill. Hill can be seen walking towards the police with a cell phone in his left hand when Coy opened fire.
Hill’s right hand cannot be seen clearly, but police said no weapons were found at the scene.
Later, the video showed Hill lying on the floor for several minutes, with no police officers providing medical assistance.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther demanded Coy’s resignation on Wednesday for not turning on the body camera early and not offering medical assistance immediately, calling the fatal shot an “astounding neglect of life.”
Yost’s office, which also oversees the Ohio Criminal Investigation Office, is leading the investigation into Hill’s death.
Quinlan extended his condolences to the Hill family.
“I can’t imagine the pain that Andre Hill’s family is feeling right now. He was taken from them by violence. Avoidable violence. Senseless violence, ”he said. “It didn’t have to happen and it should never happen.”
