Cop sacked for refusing to shoot man wins US$175,000

WASHINGTON: A West Virginia police officer who was fired after he chose not to shoot an armed black man will receive a US$175,000 (RM690,000) settlement after suing the city for wrongful termination.

Retired US Marine Stephen Mader, 27, filed a lawsuit against the city of Weirton, West Virginia, following his June 2016 dismissal from the police force.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of West Virginia said on Monday that the city had agreed to the settlement.

The lawsuit stemmed from a May 6, 2016 incident during which Mader responded to a call from a woman who reported a domestic disturbance with her boyfriend.

When Mader, who is white, arrived on the scene, he encountered a “visibly distraught” R. J. Williams, 23, with his hands behind his back, ACLU said.

Mader asked Williams to show his hands and he did, revealing a gun.

When asked to drop the weapon, Williams refused and told the officer to shoot him, according to ACLU account.

“Rather than shoot, Mader returned to his military training and attempted to deescalate the situation,” the ACLU said.

“He softened his voice, looked Williams in the eye and said: ‘I’m not going to shoot you, brother. I’m not going to shoot you’.”

During the negotiation, two other officers arrived on the scene. Williams raised his gun and one of the newly-arrived officers fired four shots, killing him. The gun turned out to be unloaded. City officials said Mader “froze on the scene” and was being fired for that reason, along with several other infractions. – AFP