Civil rights attorney John Burris, who was hired by Woodfox's family for a lawsuit against the city over the shooting, called it "the worst police shooting I have ever been involved in" outside of the killing of Oscar Grant III, of Hayward. Grant was shot and killed by a BART police officer.

Burris had called for criminal prosecution against Jimenez and said he is horrified and disappointed by the decision to bring him back to the force. However, he acknowledged that little remains in the way of legal recourse.

Jimenez had also shot and killed another unarmed man seven months earlier, which Burris said shows "a propensity to shoot first and ask questions later" and "raises questions about his emotional stability."

"I know the deck is stacked in favor of the police, but this is such an egregious shooting," Burris said.

"He should not be rewarded for killing two people in such a short time and be welcomed back with open arms."