stewart retires and sues

officer sues two critics

Under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As expected, lexington police officer and longtime department chaplain donovan stewart announced his retirement today after 20-years on the force...a decorated career that ended in controversy....and ended with his announcement today that he's suing twin sisters sarah williams and april taylor...and ten other unnamed "john does" for defamation claiming they spread lies about him and his family that damaged his reputation and career.

Williams and taylor organized protests calling for stewart to be fired for allegedly punching an autistic teenager during the teen's arrest in fayette mall last year while stewart was on an off-duty assignment there.

The teen's family is suing stewart for assault.

Williams and taylor and other protesters were at stewart's news conference today...chanting on bullhorns..."fire not retire," according to the lexington herald-leader.

Donovan stewart: "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."

"sarah williams: 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.

Williams posted on social media she wasn't afraid of being sued and wouldn't be silenced.

Stewart meantime, is retiring with a full pension and the herald- leader reports...stewart's attorney warned people at the news conference...that if you defame a police officer or his family...assault or spit on a cop...you're going to get sued...whether you're criminally charged or not.

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