Former, Police Officer Keisha Richburg with the Atlanta Police Department fired after accusations of the 2.5 year cop veteran stealing $500 from fatal shooting victim.
A police officer with the Atlanta Police Department was fired Monday after video surveillance appeared to confirm allegations that she stole $500 from a shooting victim in Georgia last month.
Former officer Keisha Richburg‘s role with the agency was terminated following an internal investigation after accusations of ‘theft’ from a June 19 deadly shooting.
Richburg responded to a call about a person shot in northwest Atlanta. Before she arrived on scene, a passerby stopped and tried to help the victim, identified as Jamel Harris. The passerby took out the victim’s wallet to try to find the man’s name, and said she saw approximately $500 in his wallet.
The bystander kept the wallet until first responders arrived at the scene of the shooting at which point she gave it to them. Later that day, the passerby said she received a call from the victim’s wife, who said there was no money in the wallet.
Georgia cop denies money ever being in the wallet given to her:
Investigators said body camera footage showed (see video above) Richburg receiving the victim’s wallet from an EMT with money inside. A minute or so later, Richburg’s body camera shows her seated in a squad car holding the wallet with Harris’ money no longer in it.
Police said it was ‘abundantly clear’ there was no longer money in the wallet- the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
A police report indicated the video proves ‘Officer Richburg transfers the victim’s wallet from her right hand to her left hand; it is readily apparent the money is no longer tucked inside the wallet.’
The department said Richburg denied there being any money in the wallet and unable to determine what happened to the cash. A spokesperson said that Richburg was fired because she ‘did not properly account for the money according to the department’s policies and procedures’ regarding recovered property and ‘truthfulness.’
‘Officer integrity goes to the heart of what we do here every single day,’ Chief Erika Shields said in a statement. ‘It’s imperative the public have trust in our word and our actions. It’s extremely disappointing to see the victim of a fatal shooting be victimized twice by the actions of one of our officers.’
Responding to Richburg’s firing, the director for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers told NBC News the two and a half year veteran ‘didn’t know’ there was money in the wallet and doesn’t believe the canned cop took it.
‘They haven’t proven that she had the money or took the money,’ the union rep said.
The Atlanta Police Department said that when their administration case file is closed, it will be forwarded to the Fulton County District Attorney‘s office for review.
