After receiving a severe reprimand for their actions, two Decatur police officers who lost their jobs over an incident involving $7 have been reinstated to the force, according to documentation from Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss.
Lt. Eric Jackson and Officer Joshua L. Speed had resigned and been fired respectively after they found money in a police cruiser last month and instead of turning it in right away divided it up. A third officer involved refused any of the money.
According to a hearing officer’s report, the next day the third officer urged Jackson to turn in the money after reporting the indiscretion to another superior officer. Jackson added $5 to the $2 he took and posted it to the department bulletin board and sent out an email stating he had found $7.
The report stated that Jackson’s intent with respect to the money couldn’t be clearly established. Even though Jackson took corrective action, it was outside department standards.
During Jackson’s hearing earlier this month, Chief J.M. Booker pointed out that he considered Jackson a good officer and until this incident would have never questioned his character. But Jackson’s failure to turn in the money before the end of his shift showed a lack of judgment.
Although Speed had been terminated, Merriss ruled the termination should be overturned. Speed was off the day following the incident and had not attempted to return his portion of the money prior to being contacted as part of the department’s internal investigation process. There is no record that Jackson contacted him either.
While disappointed in their actions, Merriss agreed that both were valuable officers and handed down the following punishment:
Both men will be reinstated retroactive to the date of their resignation/termination, but demoted with a reduction in pay.
Both were placed on one year of probation with the department, must provide oral and written apologies to Chief Booker and must complete a course in ethics and integrity.
“For the Decatur Police Department, Chief Booker has publicly repeatedly at numerous public, city and department events that those who ‘lie, cheat or steal’ will not be tolerated,” Merriss stated in her decision.
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