LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After a six-week delay and more than 10 hours in City Hall, the Civil Service Commission has decided that former LRPD Officer Starks will remain terminated from LRPD.
The appeal hearing for Charles Starks, the fired LRPD officer at the center of a deadly shooting, resumed Sept. 4. The original meeting in July had to be postponed when Starks' lawyer fell down the stairs and broke his arm.
Commissioners met for over 12 hours Wednesday to reach their decision to unanimously uphold LRPD's decision. Several people were called to testify, including several Little Rock police officers.
Several argued Starks had reason to use deadly force when approaching Blackshire's stolen vehicle and stepping in front of the car would have been the same thing as standing in the back of it because he could have put the car in the reverse, smashing Starks.
Starks' attorney, Robert Newcomb, said the commission did not take into account the amount of ressure Starks was under when they reached their decision tonight.
"I think that it was the wrong decision. I think that they wanted to second guess five seconds of a decision time. I think they ignored the fact the real culprit in this case is Mr. Blackshire. If he had done exactly what he'd been asked, nothing would have happened. Except he would have gone to prison for the all the crimes he was committing," Newcomnb said.
Officers did find a stolen gun and drugs inside the stolen car Blackshire was driving.
But the city attorney argued Starks did not know about the gun at the time of the shooting and never told the backup officer their may be a gun in the car when he arrived on scene. He argued only when the female in the passenger seat said their was a gun after Starks shot, was when he could have been aware of it.
Starks was fired in May by Little Rock Police Chief Keith Humphreys after he shot and killed Bradley Blackshire in February. The Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police said he was fired for violating a LRPD policy which states:
"Officers will not voluntarily place themselves in a position in front of an oncoming vehicle, where deadly force is the probable outcome. When confronted by an oncoming vehicle, officers will move out its path, if possible, rather than fire at the vehicle."
The Pulaski County prosecuting attorney cleared Starks and said he won't face criminal charges. Starks wants his job back.
Watch the two-part live stream hearing below.
PART ONE
On Wednesday, attorneys, witnesses and commissioners also focused in on the conclusions investigators made and whether the investigation was rushed because of pressure from Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
Both witnesses who testified today had problems with the way the investigation unfolded within the LRPD, but the lead detective said it didn't change his conclusion that Starks violated a policy and should have been fired.
Retired sergeant James Stephens led the internal affairs investigation after the prosecuting attorney declined to bring criminal charges. He said Starks should have backed up when Blackshire started moving. Going in front violated policy and recommended his higher-ups discipline him.
But Starks commander, captain Heath Helton said the officer didn't voluntarily get in front of the car. Another evaluation saw it the same way.
But despite their exonerations, Chief Humphrey fired Starks.
City attorney Khayyam Eddings questioned Helton closely. He established that some of the things his c-o's found don't change the fact that Starks ended up in front of the car.
At least three commissioners also closely questioned Helton, in some cases over larger training issues and whether Starks should have waited for back up.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT- Little Rock police released video of the officer-involved shooting where 30-year-old Bradley Blackshire was shot and killed on Feb. 22.