Decatur Police Chief says department reviewing officer conduct after community concerns
DECATUR, Ala (WHNT) — Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion has announced the department is reviewing officer conduct after “some recent negative interactions” between officers and the public.
“I feel it is necessary today to address public concerns over some recent negative interactions between Officers of the Decatur Police Department and a few members within our community,” the chief said in a statement. “It is important to me that our citizens understand that I do not condone officer misconduct, and as such, we are currently reviewing those concerns, which are in various stages at this time.”
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Pinion said that during the review certain officers will be reassigned to administrative duties to help with the process, something he said is consistent with the department’s general practice. He said once the review is completed the results will be provided to the city’s legal department for a determination on what personnel action, if any, is most appropriate.
The chief said that the determination would then be forwarded to Mayor Tab Bowling so that he can decide if a hearing with any affected employee is justified.
“Since this is a personnel process, it will proceed internally and any action taken will remain internal until the process is completed,” Pinion said.
News 19 has reached out to the Decatur Police Department to clarify what specific incident is under review, but a department spokesperson said the statement is all DPD will be releasing at this time.
Pinion’s full statement is as follows:
“I feel it is necessary today to address public concerns over some recent negative interactions between Officers of the Decatur Police Department and a few members within our community. It is important to me that our citizens understand that I do not condone officer misconduct, and as such, we are currently reviewing those concerns, which are in various stages at this time.
As is our usual practice, while the review continues certain officers will be reassigned to administrative duties to better facilitate this process. Once the review is completed, the results will be provided to the Legal Department for a determination of what suggested personnel action, if any, is appropriate.
That determination will be forwarded to the Mayor, as the appointing authority, for him to decide whether a hearing with any employee is justified in order to provide the employee an opportunity to respond. Since this is a personnel process, it will proceed internally and any action taken will remain internal until the process is completed.
It is my commitment to address concerns and provide counseling, guidance and other personnel actions, including discipline for the betterment of our Citizens, our City and our Police Department.
The process will continue but due to this being a personnel issue, it may not appear to move as quickly as some would like.
I prefer complete transparency in all matters that concern the safety of our community and officers. However, laws dictate what that level of transparency looks like in personnel and criminal cases.”
Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion
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