ATLANTA, GA – A police officer in Atlanta was dismissed from his duties on Tuesday following his involvement in the death of a 62-year-old church deacon. The officer, Kiran Kimbrough, had used a stun gun on the elderly man during a disagreement over a traffic citation. The incident, which occurred on August 10, led to the death of Johnny Hollman Sr.
Police Chief Darin Schierbaum announced the termination of Kimbrough after an internal investigation concluded on Monday. Schierbaum stated that Kimbrough had not adhered to departmental procedures, which required him to wait for a supervisor before arresting Hollman.
The decision to dismiss Kimbrough comes just days before the expected release of body camera footage documenting the encounter between the officer and Hollman. The video is set to be made public once all witnesses have been interviewed, according to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Kimbrough joined the Atlanta police force as a cadet in March 2021 and became a full-fledged officer in October of the same year. His record, as per the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council, shows no previous disciplinary actions.
Hollman’s family, who have viewed the video, argue that Kimbrough should face murder charges. However, any decision on criminal charges is expected to take several months, according to Mawuli Davis, the family’s attorney.
Hollman had been returning home from a Bible study session at his daughter’s house when he was involved in a minor car accident. He became unresponsive during his arrest, which occurred over an hour after the accident. The police department stated that Kimbrough used a stun gun on Hollman after he became agitated and uncooperative when issued a ticket for the accident.
The incident has added to the growing discontent among Atlanta residents towards the police, particularly in relation to a proposed public safety training facility. Hollman’s death was ruled a homicide by an autopsy, with heart disease also contributing to his demise.