Chaplain retires
Credit: WTVQ Lexington, KY
Duration:
0 shares
1 views
Donavan stewart officially retires and while he says his heart always will be in the community, he's fighting back with legal action against his critics.
... abc36 justin roth tells us more about what was sometimes an emotional press conference today.
The decision by a veteran officer was no real surprise, especially after the police department announced it was eliminating stewart's chaplain position in favor of a more broad-based wellness approach.
13 "donavan stewart is announcing his retirement having 20 years of continuous public service with the lexington police department, he retires with a full pension."
In february 2019, stewart was shown on video apparently striking an autistic 16-year-old during an incident at fayette mall.
The city's investigation into that incident continues as lawsuits against the department drag on.
And while the emotions still are raw, stewart praised the community.
11 "regardless of some current things we know we have a great community, we have a great people who live in this community and that's something we need to be thankful and grateful for and thank god for."
A small group of protesters outside his press conference made their opinions heard as well.
14 "accountability!
When officers do something like this and we file formal and informal complaints, they don't allow what should be a time limit of a 60 day investigation to drag on for over a year in an effort to protect the officer involved.
11 "donavan stewart has never been charged with misconduct and has never been alleged by any official proceeding relating to that incident so remember that when you leave here."
A federal lawsuit was filed against stewart earlier this year over the mall incident.
Stewart announced thursday he has filed a lawsuit of his own in fayette circuit court claiming defamation, emotional distress, and career harm.
Protest organizer sarah williams is one of those named in that lawsuit.
Justin roth abc36 news in other news... a pedestrian was struck and killed early this morning
