• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Ex-Atlanta officer involved in Rayshard Brooks shooting sues city over termination

Rayshard Brooks shooting

Garrett Rolfe (Atlanta Police Department)

August 5, 2020
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

ATLANTA — The former Atlanta police officer involved in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot is suing the mayor and interim police chief for firing him, claiming the dismissal violated not only his constitutional rights but also city code.

Garrett Rolfe filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court. The allegations in the civil action claim he was unfairly terminated from the police department “without an investigation, without proper notice, without a disciplinary hearing, and in direct violation of the municipal code of the City of Atlanta,” Fox News reported.

Rolfe was fired on June 13, a day after he was involved in the fatal shooting of Brooks after the DUI suspect fought with officers, obtained a police Taser, and fired it as he tried to flee.

Rolfe, 27, faces 11 charges, including felony murder, in what was a hasty criminal filing before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had completed their work.

  • PROSECUTOR GOING AFTER ATLANTA COPS SPEWS ABSURDITIES DURING PRESS CONFERENCE

The former officer was granted bond on June 30.

In a statement, Rolfe’s attorneys say that the City of Atlanta “wilfully and blatantly failed to abide” by city ordinances designed to give employees due process as well as the opportunity to plead their case before they are fired.

Police body cameras showed Rolfe and another officer, Devin Brosnan, having a calm conversation with Brooks for more than 40 minutes after complaints that the 27-year-old man had fallen asleep in his car in a Wendy’s drive-thru lane on June 12.

Atlanta Police Department
(Atlanta Police Department)

But when officers told him he’d had too much to drink to be driving and tried to handcuff him, Brooks resisted. A struggle was caught on dash camera video. Brooks grabbed one of their Tasers and fled, firing the Taser at Rolfe as he ran away.

Brosnan, 26, is charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath and is also free on bond.

Rolfe’s lawsuit, which was first reported by the Daily Report, argues that Rolfe used deadly force “within the scope and course of his duties” in response to “Brooks’ violent, unlawful, aggressive resistance to a lawful arrest.”

  • FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS POLITICALLY GRANDSTANDING

The lawsuit says that Rolfe could only be disciplined or terminated for cause and that he has a right to due process. The proper steps, outlined in the city code, were not taken before Rolfe was fired by then-Chief Erika Shields, who resigned the same day.

The lawsuit also notes that Brosnan and many other Atlanta police officers who have been charged with crimes have remained employed while their criminal charges were pending.

The lawsuit also claims Rolfe “has become a public spectacle and object of ridicule” and asks the judge to hold a hearing and to order that Rolfe be immediately reinstated with back pay and other benefits, Fox reported.

Atlanta Police Department as well as the mayor’s office declined comment.

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Garrett RolfeRayshard Brooks
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Garrett Rolfe Devin Brosnan

Atlanta officers involved in fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks exonerated

August 23, 2022
Garrett Rolfe

‘Due process matters’: Woke officials denied officer due process; his firing must be reversed

May 5, 2021
Nicholas Reardon

The millennial paradox: America’s changing attitudes toward police use of deadly force

May 3, 2021
Paul Howard

Judge denies DA Paul Howard’s attempt to obtain details on donors for accused Atlanta officer

August 14, 2020
Armed Atlanta Protesters

Armed Atlanta protesters say ‘police aren’t allowed here’

June 24, 2020
arson suspect

Atlanta investigator’s identify arson suspect in torching of Wendy’s

June 20, 2020
Load More

Latest Articles

Maleah Renee Henry-Reed

Ohio couple charged with starving children nearly leading to their deaths

February 4, 2023
complaint

No Contact, No Complaint

February 4, 2023
Georgia police

Georgia police now livestreaming 911 calls straight to patrol units

February 4, 2023
Turlock police

California police association donates money to replace girl’s stolen wheelchair

February 4, 2023
James Adam Baird

Former Michigan teacher charged with sexually assaulting female students during vision tests

February 4, 2023
David Hodge

Teacher charged with sex crimes involving 12-year-old girl in classroom

February 4, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com