STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen will hold closed-door discussions today on a police officer’s employment status 5:30 p.m. today at City Hall.
The issue comes as a result of a November incident that included officer Jeremy Aiken allegedly improperly detaining a Starkville man by drawing, cocking and pointing a rifle at the man.
Aldermen last discussed the issue Tuesday in executive session, when Aiken’s grievance hearing was continued after his legal counsel was unable to attend the meeting.
Aiken entered the closed-door discussions and remained there about 15 minutes. He left City Hall before the board announced its decision to table the matter until today.
Tuesday also marked the second meeting in a row where family members and supporters of Walter Quantez O’Bryant asked aldermen for justice.
Elected officials and Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols have repeatedly declined to comment on the situation, but O’Bryant and his family members previously said Nichols gave them a letter stating he recommended Aiken be terminated from his post after failing to adhere to proper police procedures.
In December, O’Bryant told The Dispatch he was walking across Sitel’s parking lot in November when a police officer arrived at the business, exited his vehicle, pointed a rifle at him and ordered him to the ground.
It is believed Starkville Police Department was responding to a disturbance in the area, one in which it was not clear if the suspect was armed.
O’Bryant said he was visiting his girlfriend at the business when the officer arrived. He was not charged in the incident.
Because of previous no comments by the police department, The Dispatch is unable to corroborate his claims.
“I’m trying to tell him I’m not the guy he’s looking for. The first thing he did when he got out of the car was cock his rifle,” O’Bryant said. “They said he violated procedure. I was told that by Chief Nichols. They brought me a letter.”
His father also confirmed last month the family received the letter from Nichols.
“My son, he had no idea of what was going on. He wasn’t there when the incident took place,” his father, also named Walter O’Bryant, said last month. “I respect the law. I know they have a job to do. They have to protect themselves. But for him to come up … not only to draw your gun and cock your gun – I don’t think that was necessary, especially when he’s in compliance with everything you’re telling him to do.”
Since the incident, O’Bryant said he’s gone to the doctor because of sleep issues. In December, he said he hoped to see a psychologist because of the trauma.
The personnel matter is the only item listed on today’s agenda.
The board will meet in City Hall’s second-floor conference room.
Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard is expected to join his peers via teleconference, the agenda states.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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