Louisiana State Police have reinstated Trooper Lt. John Clary after criminal charges in the Ronald Greene case were dropped for withholding bodycam footage. In exchange, Clary will testify in the case against two officers. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt believes what’s happening is…
“Someone who’s now no longer being prosecuted who may have a firm defense to this allegation of obstruction of justice with regard to withholding, who’s being reinstated essentially because there just may not be enough evidence to support him being terminated,” said Borghardt.
Graphic bodycam footage shows Black motorist Ronald Greene being beaten by officers in 2019. He died while in police custody.
Borghardt admits while it “looks bad” that Clary has gotten his job back he points out that it’s easier to prosecute someone who destroyed evidence versus withholding it. He said terminating a civil employee is much different than a private one.
“They have to jump through certain hoops, and they have to be able to substantiate the why of firing someone,” said Borghardt.
Greene’s mother Mona Hardin told the Associated Press she was surprised and disgusted Clary has been restored to duty. Borghardt said while Hardin is understandably upset…
“You can’t just terminate employment with the State Police because you think somebody did something, you have to be able to prove it and if there’s just not enough evidence there, there’s just not enough evidence there,” said Borghardt.
Master Trooper Kory York faces negligent homicide and malfeasance charges, and Union Parish Sheriff’s deputy Chris Harpin is charged with three counts of malfeasance in the Ronald Greene death.
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