It's been 70 days since Steve Perkins was shot and killed by Decatur Police. On Thursday, Mayor Tab Bowling fired three officers and suspended one without pay. Nearly every day since the deadly shooting, there have been protests in Decatur.
Protesters in Decatur say they want to see Police Chief Todd Pinion resign by Jan. 15. Since the deadly shooting of Steve Perkins, police have arrested 30 people for disorderly conduct during protests, and some of them have begun filing complaints against the department.
Terrance Baker was arrested Tuesday for protesting outside Bowling’s house, saying, "We're just standing behind each other to let everyone know, even the city, that if you have a complaint against these officers, we need them filed. For something to be done about it, if the Department of Justice or FBI come in, they need some kind of paper trail of what's going on in this city and what's going on in the police department."
Attorney for the Perkins family, Lee Merritt, said in a press conference that there needs to be accountability for the police department for arresting those who peacefully protested.
Merritt said, "I've committed to, of course, standing with the family, coming back next week, and filing a lawsuit, but what we will additionally do as I speak with protesters and individuals who have been targeted is to make sure they are receiving all the legal support that they need and that this department is feeling the full pressure of the national community watching."
Next week, the legal team for the Perkins family will begin filing their civil rights lawsuits. As for protesters with the Justice for Steve Perkins movement, they say they will not rest until the officers involved are prosecuted.
