On Jan. 23, 2008, 38-year-old Anthony Warren was severley beaten by Brmingham Police. He suffered a severe concussion, a skull fracture, internal bleeding and broken bones. He was unarmed. The incident was captured on video. According to his pending lawsuit, Birmingham police officers "repeatedly struck [him] about his head and body causing him to be hospitalized for four days and unconscious for the majority of that time' Although numerous Birmingham officers and supervisors had seen the the video- none reported it for nearly a year. [MORE] and [MORE]
From [HERE] and [HERE] BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The three-member Jefferson County Personnel Board today voted to reinstate five former Birmingham police officers fired in 2008 amid allegations of excessive force.
Board members Ann Florie, Lonnie Washington and Chairman Kenneth Moore followed the recommendation made two weeks ago by a hearing officer.
Jim Sturdivant said city officials didn't provide any testimony during a day-long hearing to support the firings of David Doran, Barrett Dewitt, Thomas Cleveland, Heath Boackle and Kenneth Prevo.
Doran and Dewitt were found not guilty of wrongdoing in federal court earlier this year. The other three officers were never criminally charged.
All five officers were fired in 2009 after an incident came to light and made national headlines via a videotape of officers striking Anthony Warren, a suspect who led officers on a chase through several cities. At the time the officers were fired, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper held a news conference at which he said there was a failure in policy, personnel, training, procedures and supervision.
Sturdivant's order recounted the testimony of Lt. Dennis Shepard, commander of the police department's internal affairs division. During the hearing Shepard offered some criticism of the officers' techniques, but said he was not in a position to either recommend or support the decision to fire the officers.