Police say officer cleared in fatal shooting broke department policy
Published 8:17 am Monday, October 21, 2019
A Mississippi police officer recently cleared of criminal wrongdoing in a fatal shooting is facing internal discipline for failing to turn on his body camera’s audio.
Moss Point police Chief Brandon Ashley says Sgt. Lancen Shipman violated policy when he didn’t turn his camera’s audio on until after he fatally shot 27-year-old suspect Toussaint Diamon Sims.
Ashley says Shipman thought he’d hit the button, but hadn’t.
The Biloxi Sun Herald reports Sims was fleeing officers pursuing him on multiple felony charges in August.
Police officials and Shipman’s attorney have maintained Sims was armed and threatening officers.
Ashley says a first-offense policy violation typically results in a citation in the officer’s file.
The official penalty is pending.
Shipman remains out on paid administrative leave.