Overview
- After a closed-door appeal, the council voted unanimously to bring Officer Garry Chapman back with a 10-day unpaid suspension, work probation and supervised retraining, and he began serving the suspension on Tuesday.
- Police Chief Jerry Holmes had determined Chapman violated pursuit policy by continuing the high-speed chase into downtown Hartselle, and Mayor Sam Heflin recused himself from the reinstatement vote.
- Holmes said he disagrees with the decision but will proceed, adding he plans to review the pursuit policy and increase periodic training to clarify expectations for officers.
- Chapman’s attorney, Scott Morro, filed a $10 million claim with the city that he says could become a lawsuit and argues Chapman was made a scapegoat.
- Victims’ counsel says one injured teen remains severely impaired and is weighing adding Priceville and Chapman to a civil suit; the fleeing driver, Archie Hale, is jailed without bond on a reckless murder charge.