December 12, 2023
3 Officers Fired After Killing Black Man At His Home In Alabama
The city of Decatur, Alabama, has terminated three police officers in connection with the fatal shooting of a Black man outside his home.
The city of Decatur, Alabama, has terminated three police officers in connection with the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins outside his residence during a confrontation with a tow truck driver, according to The Associated Press. A fourth officer was suspended.
Mayor Tab Bowling announced the decision on Dec. 7 following personnel hearings. He refrained from disclosing the Alabama officers’ names or the specific reasons for their dismissal.
The city’s police chief previously said that the shooting violated departmental policies; an ongoing review by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will determine if criminal charges are warranted or if the officers acted within the bounds of the law.
The Sept. 29 shooting claimed the life of 39-year-old Steve Perkins when officers accompanied a tow truck driver attempting to repossess Perkins’ truck.
In a statement, the Perkins family acknowledged the dismissals as a “step in the right direction” but emphasized the need for further action. Nicholas Perkins, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “Three officers being fired and one being suspended is no comparison to Catrela losing her husband, me losing my brother, my mom losing her son, that’s not justified. We want these officers prosecuted.”
The incident, captured on a neighbor’s home surveillance camera and published by WAFF-TV, showed the tow truck backing into the driveway as Perkins emerged from his house. Officers ran out shouting commands, and multiple shots were rapidly fired. The Perkins family disputes the initial police account, citing the neighbor’s video as evidence, and insists that Perkins’ truck payments were up to date.
Regular protests have ensued in Decatur, with demonstrators demanding answers and accountability.
Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion issued a public apology in October for initially providing inaccurate information. He clarified that officers did not instruct Perkins to drop his weapon but instead told him to “get on the ground.” Pinion, along with the mayor, personally delivered the news of the dismissals to Perkins’ family and affirmed a commitment to preventing such incidents in the future, saying, “I have pledged to take action to ensure something like this never happens in Decatur again, and that process has begun in earnest.”