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A Chicago police detective who was acquitted on criminal charges in the death of unarmed Rekia Boyd should be fired, a disciplinary agency recommended to the department this week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Detective Dante Servin, who faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, and reckless conduct, was cleared in April. He was off-duty on March 21, 2012 when he fired into a crowd of people near Douglas Park, killing Boyd and injuring her friend Antonio Cross. Via the Sun-Times:

Servin argued with a group of people in the Douglas Park neighborhood on the South Side, authorities said. He said a man pulled a gun and approached his car. Servin said he was in fear for his life and fired over his shoulder at the group. Boyd was struck in the head and died the next day.

Although he was cleared of the charges, the Independent Police Review Authority notified police Superintendent Garry McCarthy of the recommendation on Wednesday, saying the officer violated department policy. From the Sun-Times:

“Today the Independent Police Review Authority, Chicago’s external, civilian-led body that investigates all police-involved shootings, formally recommended that CPD separate Officer Dante Servin,” the Chicago Police Department said in a statement. “We take the use of force by our officers, and the recommendations of IPRA, extremely seriously and we will carefully review the matter.”

IPRA found Servin violated department policy for shooting into a crowd, failing to qualify with the weapon he was carrying and giving inconsistent statements to IPRA, detectives and prosecutors.

“These findings and recommendations were based on all available evidence, witness statements and the policies and procedures of the Chicago Police Department,” said Scott Ando, the administrator of IPRA.

The Sun-Times notes that the city recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with Boyd’s family for $4.5 million, but admitted no liability. McCarthy has 90 days to review the recommendations.

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times | VIDEO CREDIT: NDN

 

Panel: Cop Acquitted In Death Of Rekia Boyd Should Be Fired  was originally published on newsone.com