Hunter
06/20/20
The Cedar Rapids police officer fired over what was called “violation of rules and policies” says he plans to appeal the decision.
A statement from the department this week said that Sgt. Lucas Jones had been on administrative leave since May 4th, and that the administrative investigation that led to his firing began in February.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Jones believes police chief Wayne Jerman caved to political pressure “to please the people above him.” He says that he was accused of lying to internal affairs, and claims to have taken four polygraph tests that came up truthful when asked directly.
Jones’ name had been invoked by protesters in the city recently, and a list of demands made by the protesters included the firing of Jones.
Jones shot and wounded Jerime Mitchell during a traffic stop in November 2016, paralyzing him. Police video of the incident shows Mitchell driving his pickup away from the stop with Jones caught on the vehicle’s door. Mitchell was ordered to stop by officer Jones, but continued. Jones fired three times, and Mitchell crashed the truck. Police recovered a pound of marijuana, scales and a backpack.
Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden convened a grand jury and Officer Jones was cleared. The state Department of Criminal Investigation looked into the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Jonathan Grossman in October of 2015 that Jones was involved in, and he was cleared in that incident as well.
Jones says the decision “is going to be litigated,” adding,“I’m absolutely not going to let a false narrative stand, and I’m not going to let the chief sully my good name and reputation that I worked so hard for.”