Memphis officer who killed unarmed teen granted disability retirement | Memphis
Memphis This article is more than 7 years oldMemphis officer who killed unarmed teen granted disability retirement
This article is more than 7 years oldConnor Schilling will receive 60% of his former salary for the rest of his life because of a determination of PTSD related to the shooting of Darrius Stewart
The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teen in Memphis last summer was granted disability retirement by the city’s pension board on Thursday. Former officer Connor Schilling will receive a bi-weekly check from the city for 60% of his former salary for the rest of his life because of a determination of PTSD related to the shooting of Darrius Stewart, and its aftermath.
“This retirement was granted by the pension board, because it is required under the city’s pension laws based on the recommendation of two doctors,” Memphis chief legal officer Bruce McMullen said in a statement released by the city.
Attorney Carlos Moore, representing Stewart’s family, told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal that the family was “shocked and dismayed and disheartened that the city has allowed officer Schilling to retire and collect his disability benefits for the rest of his life”. Stewart’s family is still considering pursuing a civil action against the city.
The case is still under review by the Department of Justice civil rights division.
Schilling was supposed to face an administrative hearing later that month to determine whether he should be disciplined by his department, but the hearing was postponed for medical reasons. The department said that because of this decision, the hearing will be “held in abeyance”, and will not continue unless Schilling rejoins the department at some later date.
“PTSD is a real concern in law enforcement and it’s only been in the last few years where law enforcement have come into the 21st century to understand the long term issues,” said Chuck Canterbury, president of the National Fraternal Order of Police. “Even though there is no visible damage,” he continued, “that’s as real an injury as a heart attack or a severed limb”.
Badge of Life, an organization that offers suicide prevention advocacy to law enforcement, estimates that one in eight patrolmen suffers from PTSD.
Schilling shot the 18-year-old Stewart during a 17 July 2015 traffic stop when the officer stopped the car Stewart was riding in because one of the car’s headlights wasn’t working. The officer discovered two outstanding out-of-state warrants for the teen, including one for sexual abuse, and placed Stewart in the back of his patrol car.
According to Schilling’s account, when he asked Stewart to exit the vehicle and be handcuffed, Stewart became combative and an altercation began. Schilling said during the scuffle Stewart grabbed at his duty belt, where the officer’s firearm was holstered. Eventually, according to Schilling’s account, Stewart got hold of the officer’s handcuffs and used them as a weapon, striking the officer in the face and arms. Schilling drew his gun and fired, striking Stewart twice in the chest and arm. Several eyewitnesses told investigators that at the moment Schilling fired, Stewart was trying to run away.
The Shelby County district attorney, Amy Weirich, recommended a grand jury indict the officer for voluntary manslaughter in November, but the grand jury declined.
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