Timeline of LR police turmoil
Feb. 22, 2019 – Officer Charles Starks shoots and kills 30-yearold Bradley Blackshire during a traffic stop.
Feb. 26, 2019 – The Little Rock Police Department relieves officer Charles Starks of duty. March 21, 2019 – Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announces Keith Humphrey as Little Rock’s new chief of police.
April 19, 2019 – Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley announces that no criminal charges will be filed against Starks in the shooting death of Bradley Blackshire.
May 6, 2019 – Chief Keith Humphrey fires officer Charles Starks for violating department policy when he stepped in front of Bradley Blackshire’s moving vehicle before shooting the Black motorist. The firing disregarded recommendations from the four supervisors in Starks’ chain of command that concluded the officer’s actions were justified.
July 25, 2019 – Officer Charles Starks’ appeal hearing begins before the Little Rock Civil Service Commission. Assistant Chiefs Hayward Finks and Alice Fulk testify that Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. pressured the police department to swiftly investigate and fire Starks following the shooting.
Sept. 4, 2019 – The Little Rock Civil Service Commission votes to uphold officer Charles Starks’ termination.
Oct. 2, 2019 – Officer Charles Starks appeals his termination to Pulaski County Circuit Court. Jan. 3, 2020 – Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox orders the Little Rock Police Department to reinstate officer Charles Starks, ruling that Starks should have instead been suspended for 30 days and had his pay cut. April 22, 2020 – Assistant Police Chief Hayward Finks files lawsuit claiming that Police Chief Keith Humphrey had been punishing him for testifying against officer Charles Starks’ firing during the Little Rock Civil Service Commission appeal. April 29, 2020 – Former Assistant Police Chief Alice Fulk sues Chief Keith Humphrey, accusing him of retaliation and discrimination after she testified that the investigation in officer Charles Starks’ shooting of Bradley Blackshire was rushed.
April 30, 2020 – The Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police calls for an investigation of Chief Keith Humphrey due to accusations of retaliation and discrimination against the police officials involved in the investigation and appeal of officer Charles Starks. May 5, 2020 – Three officers and one civilian employee of the Little Rock Police Department sue Chief Keith Humphrey, accusing Humphrey and the city of denying access to their personnel files after they were disciplined following an internal affairs investigation.
May 19, 2020 – Mayor Frank Scott Jr. calls for an independent review of the Little Rock Police Department.
May 28, 2020 – Little Rock police Capt. Marcus Paxton sues Chief Keith Humphrey, claiming Humphrey transferred him out of spite after Paxton’s subordinate gave testimony regarding the internal investigation of officer Charles Starks that Humphrey didn’t like.
May 31, 2020 – Chief Keith Humphrey calls out his department in an email to officers that said he had never been more embarrassed in 32 years in law enforcement than when he observed a “segregated LRPD” during a string of protests after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota. Sept. 11, 2020 – Officer Charles Starks resigns, saying Chief Keith Humphrey and Mayor Frank Scott Jr. had created an “intolerable” work environment. Sept. 15, 2020 – The Little Rock Police Department’s three assistant chiefs and seven of its 10 captains pen a letter to Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and the Little Rock Board of Directors asking them to address a “very toxic, hostile and explosive work environment” created by Chief Keith Humphrey.
Sept. 16, 2020 – The Little Rock Black Police Officers Association sends a letter to Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and the Little Rock Board of Directors supporting Chief Keith Humphrey, saying the department’s command staff was targeting Humphrey because the new chief was trying to eradicate the department’s “Good Ole Boy” system.
Sept. 30, 2020 – Chief Keith Humphrey countersues 21 individuals – including two assistant chiefs, police union officials and officer Charles Starks – alleging a conspiracy to force him out of his role as chief.