DECATUR, Ala. — All four Decatur police officers have officially filed an appeal with the city's personnel review board, disputing their punishments handed down by the city's mayor following the shooting death of Steve Perkins nearly three months ago. Their appeal hearing dates have now been announced.
The hearing for Joey Williams will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Decatur City Hall City Council Chamber.
The hearing for Christopher Mukkadam will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Decatur City Hall City Council Chamber.
The hearing for Vance Summers will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Decatur City Hall City Council Chamber.
The hearing for Bailey Marquette will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Decatur City Hall City Council Chamber.
The announcement says, "Room occupancy restrictions will be honored. Appeal hearings are not a setting for public comment or disruption. Only participants involved in the Appeal Hearing process will be permitted to speak.
The officers had seven days in which to file their appeals, Mayor Tab Bowling announced in his initial Dec. 7 announcement. The identities of the officers were not revealed at that time, with Bowling stating that the only way their names would be public record would be through the appeals process.
However, Officers Bailey Marquette, Christopher Mukkadam, Joey Williams, and Vance Summers were publicly named this week in a federal lawsuit filed by Perkins' widow, alleging wrongful death in the Sept. 29 incident.
The lawsuit identifies Marquette as the officer who fired the shots that fatally wounded Perkins.
Of the group of four officers named, one officer received suspension without pay, and the others terminated with immediate effect. FOX54 is working to clarify through legal documents which officer was which.
Supporters of the Perkins family, as well has several civil rights groups, have called for the officers' termination, as well as prosecution, over the shooting, which took place after a dispute over a vehicle repossession. The federal suit against the officers alleges "unconstitutional and unreasonable conduct" led to Perkins' death.
Decatur City Council member Hunter Pepper has been vocal in his support of the fired officers, stating he feels the mayor did not have all the evidence to support the decision. An ALEA criminal investigation is still ongoing at this time.
Now that the appeals have been filed, the five-member Personnel Review Board will have up to 30 days to set a date and time for a formal hearing. Once that date is set, all parties will be notified and a public notice will be issued.