FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF News) – A Fort Worth police officer who was fired for shooting a man who was holding a barbecue fork has filed an appeal.
Courtney Johnson said the shooting was an accident.
“The shooting of Mr. Adams was unintentional and I am truly sorry that it happened,” he said.
His attorney said Fort Worth police do not give officers enough training with the shotgun. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas said officers may only get two hours of hands-on training.
Johnson explained further that police do not teach officers that reflex actions could cause a shotgun to fire.
“This is something that was not taught when I received my training with the Fort Worth Police Department and since my incident it is still not being taught,” he said.
The Fort Worth Police Association’s Rick Van Houtenbacked up Johnson’s claim. He said officers don’t get enough training with a shotgun and that the training is flawed.
“When having to reload a shotgun and you have an active threat, you’re trained to point that shotgun muzzle at the threat,” he said.
Johnson went to trial over the shooting but the jury was deadlocked. He was fired after the mistrial.
Johnson’s attorney said he hopes to have a hearing about the situation in the next four months.
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