Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion responds to an independent report released on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (Source: Screenshot - WAAY/YouTube)

Third-party investigation of Decatur PD notes ‘improper’ arrests, deleted body-camera videos

Share this...

DECATUR, AL — A third-party investigation released on Thursday found that the Decatur Police Department often arrested citizens without valid cause and had a history of not thoroughly investigate civilian complaints.

The 43-page report also pointed to multiple occasions DPD police officers would arrest a person for disorderly conduct but what the arrest report states is often not consistent with what was observed on body-camera video. The report also said officers would arrest citizens for simply using profanity.

The report notes officers also arrested citizens for simply using profanity.

The report comes more than one year after the fatal police-involved shooting of Steve Perkins which sparked days of protests. Perkins, 39, was killed by police on Sept. 29, 2023 when Decatur police officers accompanied a tow truck driver who was attempting to repossess Perkins truck.

Initially, after the shooting DPD said Perkins confronted the officers with a gun and refused officers’ commands to drop his weapon. They later said no such command was given.

DPD has not released body-worn camera footage of the fatal shooting.

Former DPD Mac Bailey Marquette has been charged with murder. His trial is scheduled for April.

Per the Associated Press, in written request for an immunity hearing filed in January, attorneys for Marquette said the former officer fired his weapon because Perkins exited the home and “rapidly advanced toward the tow-truck and was pointing” a gun with a flashlight attached “toward the tow-truck driver.”

Marquette’s defense lawyers said his actions were protected under “stand your ground” immunity.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for March 25.

More on the investigation and report.

BLK News Now!

Blog dedicated to news and viewpoints from Black journalists who support, and inform, communities of color.

Original content, and curated articles, are posted and updated daily.

More From Author

"PPD T12" by PFDChasePictures is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Lessons from ‘stop and frisk’ can help Philly police use drones to improve safety without compromising civil liberties

(Credit: Unsplash)

Is a new Mississippi law decreasing jailings of people awaiting mental health treatment? The state doesn’t know.