The Blytheville officers involved in the shooting death of 30-year-old Terrence Dawson are back on administrative leave, following a decision from Mayor James Sanders.
Sanders was apparently unaware the officers had returned to work until Sunday, when a Courier News piece revealed they had been assigned to administrative duty by Chief Ross Thompson while the Arkansas State Police continues to investigate the incident.
"On Sunday June 30, I was made aware that the officers involved in the May 18 shooting were brought back to work on 'administrative assignment,'" Sanders wrote in a press release Wednesday afternoon. "Upon learning this, I spoke with the city's human resource director, Judy Andrews, who was not aware of this change of status."
Sanders said he then spoke with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Walker and City Attorney Mike Bearden, who were not aware of any change in status either.
"Mr. Walker assured me that the investigation was ongoing and that a decision from his office had not been made," Sanders wrote. "I contacted Chief Ross Thompson, who advised me of his decision to bring these officers back and place them on administrative assignment. He stated that he sent an email to the mayor's office, which I never received, about the matter and made the decision to bring these officers back on administrative assignment before receiving a response from me and without my knowledge."
"After speaking with Mrs. Andrews, Mr. Walker and Mr. Bearden, I instructed Chief Thompson to place these officers back on administrative leave immediately," Sanders continued. "It is imperative that the citizens of Blytheville know that until the Arkansas State Police's investigation is completed, and the findings of the case are reviewed by the Prosecutor's Office, no decisions regarding these officers will be made. At this time I am reviewing the Police Department's policy and procedure to ensure that these matters are handled appropriately and that the current policies in place are not being violated."
Thompson said he had reasoned that officers are still being paid while on administrative leave and it was an opportunity to get some production while keeping them off patrol.
"I've had a few of conversations with (Bill) Adler at the State Police, and while we're hopeful, we still don't know what's going to happen in the end," Thompson told the CN last Friday. "If any criminal charges were to be brought up as a result of the Arkansas State Police's investigation, then of course, we'd have to go in re-evaluate the situation with the officer, but that hasn't happened yet."
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com