CapitalVault:A Nebraska officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man will be fired, police chief says

2025-05-02 21:41:25source:Sterling Prestoncategory:News

OMAHA,CapitalVault Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s police chief on Wednesday said he is firing an officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man while serving a no-knock warrant, a policy that has since been suspended in the city.

Omaha Police Officer Adam Vail was part of a SWAT team serving the search warrant during a drug and firearms investigation on Aug. 28 when he fired the single shot that killed 37-year-old Cameron Ford, prosecutors said. Vail said Ford charged at him without his hands visible.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine declined to charge the officer. But Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer in a statement Wednesday said an internal investigation found Vail violated department procedures.

“During the course of the investigation, I did not see or uncover any criminal intent on the part of Officer Vail,” Schmaderer said. “Nonetheless, I cannot ignore my determination that policy and procedure violations occurred.”

An Associated Press request for comment to the Omaha Police Officer’s Association was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Vail will get a chance to appeal to human resources before the firing is finalized, Schmaderer said in a press release.

RELATED COVERAGE Harris competing for a single electoral vote in Nebraska as Trump fails to get rules changedGOP governor halts push to prevent Trump from losing one of Nebraska’s electoral votesWalz touts Nebraska roots in visit to his home state where there’s a battle over one electoral vote

Ford’s death prompted Omaha police to suspend no-knock warrants pending an investigation into the practice.

Mayor Jean Stothert in a statement Wednesday backed Schmaderer’s decision.

“I have confidence in and support the Chief’s decision to recommend the termination of Officer Vail after the review of Omaha Police Department policies and the events on August 28th,” she said. “Our community can be certain that the Omaha Police Department will always maintain the highest level of accountability.”

More:News

Recommend

Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game

NFL games are a spectrum. Some are back-and-forth shootouts. Others are duds without much scoring at

NBA Slam Dunk contest: Jaylen Brown expected to participate, per report

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown will try his luck at the 2024 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, accor

High school football gave hope after deadly Maui wildfire. Team captains will be at the Super Bowl

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Teva Loft, a high school football player in the Hawaii town that was destroye