Memphis officer who shot Black teen returns to duty (from paid vacation status)

From [HERE] A Memphis police officer who shot and killed a 15-year-old boy three months ago has returned to duty, although the investigation into that shooting is ongoing.

Terrance Shaw, 28, was off duty when he shot and killed Justin Thompson when the teen allegedly tried to rob him near South Perkins and Winchester. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation review of the case is continuing. Shaw returned to duty Saturday, MPD spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph said. He is assigned to the Real Time Crime Center.

"Due to the fact that no criminal charges have been filed, Shaw was returned to duty in non-enforcement status," Rudolph said in a statement. "Rather than sitting at home with pay (paid vacation), he has been returned to duty in non-enforcement status. He is able to assist with duties which would not require him to carry a gun or make arrests."

Thompson was the second person Shaw has shot and killed while a police officer. On Feb. 14, 2009, Shaw shot Courtney McGowan, 25, the driver of a car that struck Shaw as he and his partner approached it. Shaw was cleared by the department and prosecutors.

Apparently Thompson was chased and shot to death by Officer Shaw. Police have refused to provide details of the shooting to the public. A neighbor said that before the boy collapsed in her yard he stopped running and asked her to call an ambulance for help because he had been shot. Witnesses said they saw Justin get into a black car minutes before they heard the gunshots. They said Justin was running through their yards telling them to call an ambulance.

His mother, Shirley, said Justin left to walk to the store with his two brothers, however his brothers returned and he did not. She said minutes later, she could see police lights outside of her home. [MORE] 

This year, at least 23 Memphis officers and civilian personnel have been charged with crimes, from DUI and drug dealing to human sex trafficking. Going back to 2004, dozens of officers in the 2,400-officer force have been charged with corruption.

Thompson's death was a tipping point for Mayor A C Wharton Jr. in recently ordering a review of the department by an outside group, like Miami, Los Angeles and other major cities with troubled departments have done in the past. [MORE]