Police: Mississippi officer in fatal shooting returns to job

MOSS POINT, Miss. – A Mississippi police officer who shot and killed a man fleeing police has returned to his post.

Moss Point police Chief Brandon Ashley tells The Sun Herald that Sgt. Lancen Shipman returned to work about two weeks ago after being cleared by a doctor. Shipman had been on paid leave over the August shooting of 27-year-old Toussaint Diamon Sims.

He was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, but an internal investigation found he violated department policy by not turning on his body camera’s audio. Ashley says the violation resulted in a written reprimand.

Shaky body camera video shows Shipman chasing Sims, first by car and then by foot, until audio finally cuts in as he stands near Sims’ limp body. Police officials and Shipman’s attorney maintain Sims was armed.

___

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com