Officer Convicted In Shooting Death Becomes Police Chief
A former Bella Vista police officer who served jail time after shooting a suspect to death was sworn in as a police chief Monday night.
When Coleman Brackney took over as Sulphur Springs’ chief, it was the first time Coleman put on a police uniform since he was fired from the Bella Vista Police Department in 2010. Coleman was convicted that year of negligent homicide and served about one month in jail.
A district court ruled that Brackney was to blame for the shooting death of James Ahern following a high-speed pursuit in January 2010. His negligent homicide conviction was a misdemeanor, so Brackney was spared prison time.
“I told the guys the day I left I would be back, and I told them it may take me a while because it was going to be a long fight,” Brackney told 5NEWS on Tuesday. “But I’m back.”
Ahern’s family was awarded $20,000 after suing Brackney. His charge of negligent homicide was expunged, and a state board ruled Brackney could again serve as a police officer in Arkansas.
Brackney said his passion is law enforcement, so he always knew he would be back in uniform some day.
“Everybody can judge everybody else. Until you have actually rode with a police officer or have a family member or friend that is a police officer, you don’t really know what that job entails,” Brackney said.
Sulphur Springs has been without a police presence for the last several months. Brackney said he thought the town could use an officer.
The City Council named Brackney the new chief last week. He is the only police officer in town, but said he hopes to hire more officers to the department. “You put the uniform back on and you look at yourself in the mirror, and you think, I’m back,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Ark. police officer charged in deadly shooting Posted: April 21, 2010 - 8:04am BELLA VISTA (AP) — A Bella Vista police officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop in January has been charged with manslaughter.
Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone said Tuesday he's filing the charge against Coleman Brackney in the death of James Ahern.
Brackney shot Ahern six times on Jan. 20 after Ahern led the officer on a high speed chase.
Brackney has said he fired the first five shots because he thought Ahern was trying to attack him with his car — then fired a sixth shot from behind the car when the car's back-up lights came on.
Prosecutors say Brackney's dash camera video shows the car's reverse lights did not come on.
Brackney was fired Tuesday after being on paid leave since the shooting.
A former Bella Vista police officer convicted of negligent homicide will remain eligible to severe as a law enforcement officer. The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards board decided to uphold Coleman Brackney’s certification in Arkansas. A hearing was held on April 12.
Brackney pleaded guilty to negligent homicide following the Jan. 20, 2010 shooting death of James Ahern. Brackney shot Ahern after he led him on a high-speed pursuit.
Brackney was fired from the Bella Vista Police Department after the shooting. He severed one month in jail, paid a fine and following a probationary period, the charge was expunged.
But Bella Vista Police Chief Ken Farmer, who fired Brackney, says he’s not sure if his town would accept the former officer back on the force.
“Of course it`s my decision on who to hire, but you have to keep several things in mind when you hire an individual and it would determine to me whether if he would be accepted by the community,” he said.
Farmer says he did not give a recommendation to the commission whether Brackney should be able to serve again. But he did attend the meeting.
“Even though he was terminated, I felt like this was a complex case and that should be decided by someone besides me,” Chief Farmer said.
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