The police officer who was fired and charged with murder after he fatally shot Rayshard Brooks last June has been reinstated to the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The decision comes after the city’s Civil Service Board said in a ruling that officer Garrett Rolfe was not afforded “his right to due process,” when he was terminated.
“Due to the City’s failure to comply with several provisions of the Code and the information received during witnesses’ testimony, the Board concludes the Appellant was not afforded his right to due process,” the board concluded. “Therefore, the Board grants the Appeal of Garrett Rolfe and revokes his dismissal as an employee of the APD.”
Despite the ruling, Rolfe will not be allowed back on the force just yet. His bond prevents him from possessing a firearm or being around other officers. His attorney Lance LoRusso said the cop will “essentially be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the charges against him.”
Rolfe was fired one day after he shot Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot in June last year following a scuffle during which Brooks struck the other officer on the scene, Devin Brosnan, hard enough to cause a concussion, grabbed his Taser and aimed it at Rolfe, who then fired his weapon, according to AJC.
Brosnan wasn’t fired but faces lesser charges including aggravated assault.
