A police officer accused of excessive force has decided to accept a demotion and suspension for his actions, but may soon be off the force anyway.
On Thursday, Cpl. Jason King told the city's Board of Public Safety that he would accept the disciplinary measures recommended by Police Chief Darryl Boykins, even though King said he did nothing wrong.
King was accused of using excessive force when arresting Skee Katlun after a high-speed chase Feb. 14.
Boykins, after a department internal investigation, said videotape evidence of the incident showed King attacking an unresisting Katlun, who lay prone on the ground. Boykins also alleged King lied about the incident on a police report.
On Thursday, however, King disputed those allegations and said he had followed standard police procedure. His lawyer, Thomas Dixon, said other officers, including Lt. Robert Black of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, had reviewed the tape of the incident and were willing to testify that King's actions were legitimate and right.
That testimony, however, was not heard at Thursday's hearing after King announced his decision to accept the chief's recommended discipline.
King said he chose not to fight the allegations for personal reasons — his wife recently gave birth to their first child — and because he feared the board could jeopardize his request to be placed on disabled leave from the department.
King is scheduled to appear before the department's pension board today to ask that he be placed on full-time disability stemming from a December 2007 on-duty accident.
On Dec. 20, 2007, King received multiple injuries — including a broken neck — after his squad car crashed with another officer's vehicle.
King was placed on disabled leave after the accident, but had returned to active duty by the time of the Feb. 14 incident. King was returned to light duty after the incident with Katlun, but before allegations of wrong-doing were filed with the Board of Public Safety.
King said doctor reports have shown he is physically unfit to serve as an officer, and that seeking disability is the best option for him and his family.
"I have to think about my future and my family," King said.
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More of the story: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090529/News01/905290344/1130
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